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Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, a Democrat, has publicly urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Doggett's call, the first from a House Democrat, comes in the wake of Biden's poor performance at a recent debate.
"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 in a statement on Tuesday (July 2).
He added that he hopes Biden, whose "first commitment has always been to our country, not himself," will make the "painful and difficult decision to withdraw."
Doggett's statement has brought to light what many have been privately discussing since last week's debate. The perceived weak performance by Biden, an 81-year-old career politician, has caused concern among his supporters, leading to questions about his suitability as the Democratic candidate to face the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, in November.
The statement from Doggett, who is serving his 15th term in Congress representing an Austin-based district, came shortly after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that it is a "legitimate question" whether Biden's performance is indicative of a temporary lapse or a more permanent condition.