According to multiple reports, Democratic leaders expressed strong support for Biden to step down as the party’s nominee during a private call this afternoon with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
An anonymous source who was on the call reportedly told the Washington Post that Reps. Jerry Nadler from New York, and the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, was the first to call for Biden’s exit. Rep. Adam Smith from Washington also reportedly spoke in favor of the idea.
Meanwhile, journalists from Punchbowl News reported that Reps. Don Beyer from Virginia and Mark Takano from California have also expressed support, with most Democrats on the call saying that Vice President Kamala Harris should replace Biden as the nominee.
The New York Times also reported that Joseph Morelle from New York, the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, also supported Biden stepping down.
None of the five lawmakers cited have publicly called for the president to withdraw from the race.
To date, only five Democratic leaders — Reps. Angie Craig of Minnesota, Lloyd Doggett of Texas, Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Mike Quigley of Illinois — have publicly called for Biden to bow out of the 2024 presidential campaign.
