Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas made headlines as the first House Democratic lawmaker to publicly call for President Joe Biden to withdraw as the party’s nominee for president. Citing Biden’s perceived failure to effectively defend his accomplishments during the debate against Donald Trump, Doggett issued a statement urging Biden to make the “painful and difficult decision to withdraw.”
In his statement, Doggett emphasized his respect for Biden’s achievements while highlighting concerns raised by Biden’s weak debate performance, which sparked widespread panic among his supporters. Doggett, who represents an Austin-based district and holds a senior position on the House Ways and Means Committee, drew a comparison to historical decisions made by past leaders facing similar challenges.
“My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved,” Doggett said. “Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.”
Biden himself acknowledged the debate did not go well but reaffirmed his readiness to contest a second term. His campaign has responded indirectly to criticism, opting instead to deploy surrogates to defend his record and differentiate him from Trump on national television.
The call from Doggett comes amid broader Democratic concerns about Biden’s candidacy as the party gears up for a pivotal election, with control of Congress also in the balance. Other prominent Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, have also hinted at the possibility of Biden stepping aside before the Democratic convention in August, reflecting a growing sentiment within the party’s ranks.
