Overview
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) criticizes fellow Democrats urging President Joe Biden to step aside for the 2024 presidential election, warning that internal discord harms their chances against former President Donald Trump.
Why It Matters
Internal divisions within the Democratic Party could weaken its ability to present a united front, potentially influencing the outcome of the 2024 presidential election and the nation’s future leadership.
Who It Impacts
This issue affects Democratic voters, party strategists, and ultimately all Americans who will vote in the upcoming presidential election.
In a stark critique of his fellow Democrats, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) has voiced strong disapproval of party members who are urging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. The two-term lawmaker from the Bronx emphasized that such internal discord risks damaging the party’s prospects in the upcoming election.
Torres expressed his concerns in a statement posted on his personal X account, underscoring the negative impact of mixed messaging within the Democratic Party. “Regardless of where one stands on the question of President Biden’s political future, the intra-party mixed messaging strikes me as deeply self-destructive,” he stated. Torres questioned the wisdom of weakening Biden, particularly if he remains the Democratic nominee, arguing that it only serves to diminish an already challenged president.
Regardless of where one stands on the question of President Biden’s political future, the intra-party mixed messaging strikes me as deeply self-destructive.
Those publicly calling on President Biden to withdraw should ask themselves a simple question: what if the President…
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) July 8, 2024
The lawmaker further elaborated that undermining Biden through public statements of no confidence could prove counterproductive. “Weakening a weakened nominee seems like a losing strategy for a presidential election. The piling-on is not so much solving a problem as much as it is creating and compounding one. The process by which we decide how to move forward matters as much as the decision itself,” Torres added.
The internal calls for Biden to step aside have not been limited to whispers. Some prominent Democrats, including Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Seth Moulton (D-MA), and Mike Quigley (D-IL), have publicly voiced their concerns. Among them, Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) from a battleground district joined the chorus on Saturday. Citing Biden’s debate performance and his subsequent lack of a robust response, Craig expressed doubts about Biden’s ability to effectively campaign against Donald Trump. She called for a new generation of leaders to step forward, deeming it essential to avoid the risk of a second Trump presidency.
Reports from Axios and the Associated Press indicate that more Democrats may soon follow suit, with unnamed lawmakers suggesting that public pressure on Biden will increase. The Associated Press highlighted that some leading congressional Democrats, including Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Mark Takano (D-NY), discussed in a private call convened by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) that Biden should step aside.
Despite this growing pressure, there remains a faction within Congress that continues to support Biden. Figures like House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) have advised Biden to reassure his supporters if he continues his campaign. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also reaffirmed his support, declaring at a press conference, “I’m with Joe Biden.” Meanwhile, a planned meeting to rally Senate Democrats against Biden’s candidacy was canceled, suggesting some level of indecision or reconsideration within the party.
In response to the mounting speculation, President Biden issued a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday, asserting his commitment to the race and his determination to defeat Donald Trump. He sought to quash rumors and affirm his resolve, stating, “Despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump.”
The current discord among Democrats poses significant challenges. The divided stance within the party could undermine their electoral strategy and weaken their position against a formidable opponent in Trump.
