Amid increasing calls for President Joe Biden to step down, several progressive Democrats, including Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), have come out in support of his reelection bid. This support comes after Biden faced significant criticism regarding his mental fitness and electability following a subpar debate performance.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, speaking to the press, stated, “I have spoken to the president over the weekend. I have spoken with him extensively. He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race. The matter is closed.”
Rep. Omar has shown her support by featuring Biden in her campaign advertisements. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) also backed Biden, emphasizing the need to unify and focus on defeating former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
While these endorsements are significant, other members of the “Squad” have remained silent. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Cori Bush (D-MO), and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) have not yet made public statements regarding their stance on Biden’s candidacy, with some expressing dissatisfaction over his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), highlighted the ongoing discussions among Democrats about the best path forward. “It is true that Democrats are having many conversations among our members and our constituents as we consider the best path forward to protect our Democrats,” Jayapal said in a statement.
Jayapal praised the accomplishments of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris but stopped short of endorsing Biden or calling for his withdrawal. She mentioned that Biden is scheduled to meet with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus this week.
In a letter to Democrats, Biden reaffirmed his determination to remain in the race, writing, “The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. It’s time for it to end. We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump.”
