WASHINGTON — Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona on Wednesday became the second Democrat in Congress to publicly call on President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid, as many Democrats continue to privately express concerns about Biden’s prospects after last week’s debate.
Grijalva told the New York Times that if Biden is the nominee, “I will support him, but I think it’s an opportunity to look elsewhere.”
He added that Biden must “take responsibility for keeping this seat – and part of that responsibility is to withdraw from this race.”
A spokesman for Grijalva confirmed his comments on Wednesday evening.
Grijalva is a leading progressive voice on Capitol Hill, having served as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, on Tuesday became the first Democrat on Capitol Hill to urge Biden to drop out of the race.
Reached for comment on Grijalva’s remarks, a Biden campaign official noted the efforts made by Biden, his campaign and the White House to “address the concerns raised after the debate,” including Biden’s participation in media interviews and campaign events, as well as his plans to hold a press conference next week.
Democrats are scrambling behind the scenes as they debate whether Biden remains a viable candidate — and who might replace him at the top of the ticket if that happens.
Biden and his team, which includes top White House advisers and his campaign team, have said he is not giving up on the race. In a call with his campaign advisers on Wednesday, Biden made clear he is staying in the race.
“I’m going to say it as clearly as I can, as simply and directly as I can: I’m running,” Biden said, according to an official on the call. “Nobody is pushing me to leave. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race all the way, and we’re going to win.”
Grijalva is the first Democrat in a key state to call on Biden to step down. Biden won Arizona in 2020 by a razor-thin margin, flipping the state blue by just over 10,000 votes.
Doggett and Grijalva are both in solidly blue districts and won their 2022 elections handily. Doggett received 76.8% of the vote, while Grijalva received 64.5%.
Doggett cited declining poll numbers and Biden’s performance in the debates to explain his decision to urge Biden to drop out.
“I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to step down,” Doggett said in Tuesday’s statement. “President Biden should do the same.”
Grijalva, 76, was first elected to Congress in 2002 and is seeking re-election this year. He is the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a longtime member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Nanette Barragán told NBC News she was unaware that Grijalva planned to ask Biden to step down.
“You’re always surprised when you don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said. “And I haven’t spoken to him.”
Julie Tsirkin contributed.
News Source : www.nbcnews.com
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