Rep. Earl Blumenauer on Wednesday became the ninth House Democrat to call on President Biden to step aside, as more leaks begin to spring from the president’s dam of Democratic-lawmaker support.
Mr. Blumenauer, Oregon Democrat, lauded Mr. Biden’s tenure in office but noted that the question of whether he should stay in the race was about more than “extending his presidency, but protecting democracy.”
“While this is a decision for the president and the first lady, I hope they will come to the conclusion that I and others have: President Biden should not be the Democratic presidential nominee,” Mr. Blumenauer said.
“It is a painful and difficult conclusion, but there is no question in my mind that we will all be better served if the president steps aside as the Democratic nominee and manages a transition under his terms.” he continued.
“He has earned that right.”
Mr. Blumenauer, who will be retiring from Congress at the end of this year after serving in the House since 1996, was not the only House Democrat who urged Mr. Biden to step aside on Wednesday, and comes as more congressional Democrats have begun to publicly express their concerns over the president staying on the ticket.
Rep. Pat Ryan, New York Democrat, called on Mr. Biden to bow out of the race earlier in the day, arguing that the president was “no longer the best candidate to beat Trump.”
He suggested an open process to replace the president should he step aside, naming several possible candidates, which included Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Blumenauer did not provide any alternatives for who could take the president’s place but said that during his remaining tenure in office, Mr. Biden should devote his remaining time in office — should he step aside — to “issues of war and peace the climate crisis, and rebuilding and renewing America.”
“I stand willing to assist in any way possible on these critical efforts,” Mr. Blumenauer said.