Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has joined the growing chorus of Democrats saying President Joe Biden should step aside, suggesting he’s no longer fit to hold office.
In a statement Thursday, Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, said she’s listened to constituents over the past two weeks since the president’s performance in the first debate with Donald Trump.
“Like most people I represent in Southwest Washington, I doubt the president’s judgment about his own health, his fitness to do the job, and whether he is the one making important decisions about our country, rather than unelected advisers,” she said.
“Americans deserve to feel their president is fit enough to do the job. The crisis of confidence in the president’s leadership needs to come to an end. The president should do what he knows is right for the country and put the national interest first.”
Her comments came just ahead of a closely watched solo news conference Thursday in which Biden fielded questions from reporters for the first time since the debate.
He batted away questions about his ability to serve another four years, saying he’s staying in the 2024 race — but acknowledged that it’s important he try to “allay fears” among voters.
Several other Democratic members of Congress came out with new statements Thursday, before the news conference, saying he should stand down his campaign.
Gluesenkamp Perez, who faces a strong reelection challenge in her Republican-leaning district, is the second Democrat in Washington’s U.S. House delegation to call for Biden’s exit.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, said earlier this week that Biden should end his 2024 reelection bid, given his inability to put to rest the doubts about his mental acuity and ability to defeat Trump.
The same day, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray strongly suggested Biden needs to do more to show he’s up to the job and that “he must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy …”
In an interview Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell did not jump on the dump Biden bandwagon, but also did not strongly defend him.
“I’m not calling for him to step down at this time,” Cantwell said.
Seattle Times staff reporter Lynda V. Mapes contributed to this report.
