Democrats face pressure from home to push Biden out of the 2024 race
WASHINGTON − As the number of Democrats who have directly called on President Joe Biden to exit the 2024 race continues to grow, some members of Congress are facing pressure from their constituents to join in.
A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll, conducted between July 5 and July 9, found that 56% of Democratic voters across the country want Biden to drop out − but the president has remained defiant. He said during a NATO press conference Thursday that he would only end his bid for the White House if his team told him he can't win.
"No one is saying that," he told reporters Thursday.
Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., said at an event Friday that “100%” of the phone calls her office is receiving are from people pleading with her to ask Biden to make way for another Democratic nominee.
She acknowledged voter concerns during a union-backed event for for her own reelection campaign. Bush is in the middle of a tight primary race and will face Democratic challenger Wesley Bell in an election on Aug. 6.
“The people of St. Louis are still calling into our office letting us know what they think and we’re still listening,” Bush said. “If you have an opinion on it, please call our office and let us know.”
Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., is also up for reelection this year and facing pressure to call for Biden to drop out. She said in a statement that while in her home state, she “heard overwhelmingly from Vermonters that they would like to see President Biden step aside in this race.”
Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., is not up for reelection this year but also confirmed Colorado voters were worried about the president’s bid for a second term. He said his office had received more than 3,000 calls and emails over the last week or so from people skeptical about Biden’s candidacy.
“I think many senators are listening to their constituents,” he told Semafor earlier this week. “These are people that are not donors. These are not elite. They’re not in the Beltway. They’re running 90-10 against the president. So, if I really wanted to piss them off, I could come out and say how great this campaign is going. I’m not sure I believe that.”
Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @rachelbarber_
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats face pressure to call for Biden to drop out
