There’s a meeting to decide if he is fit to continue.
Some key House and Senate Democrats are planning meetings next week to discuss the future of President Joe Biden’s candidacy amidst internal concerns and calls for reassessment.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., will host a virtual meeting with Democratic committee ranking members on Sunday, according to sources familiar with the plans. The focus of this meeting is expected to center around President Biden’s status as the party’s nominee, particularly in light of recent calls for him to step aside.
Simultaneously, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., is organizing a gathering of Democratic senators next week to address concerns about Biden’s electability and potential impacts on other Democratic candidates in down-ballot races, as reported by sources briefed on the matter.
While a couple of House Democrats have publicly advocated for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race following a challenging debate performance, and others have privately expressed similar sentiments, senators have generally refrained from definitive statements on Biden’s future.
The scheduled meeting of House committee leaders on Sunday afternoon is not part of their regular sessions and precedes the return of House lawmakers to Washington after the Fourth of July recess.
Despite internal deliberations, Biden and the White House have reaffirmed his commitment to remain in the race. At a recent rally in Wisconsin, Biden reiterated his determination to run and defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., in an interview with NBC News, indicated he had not been approached by Warner regarding discussions about Biden stepping aside. He expressed confidence in Biden’s ability to prevail over Trump, emphasizing Biden’s track record of electoral success against him.
Fetterman urged Democrats to maintain resolve in challenging times, cautioning against reactionary decisions and advocating for steadfastness in supporting their nominee.
