Dozens of Democratic lawmakers texting about Biden stepping down: report

Around 40 Democratic lawmakers have been text messaging each other about President Joe Biden stepping down as the party’s presidential nominee, according to a member of the House of Representatives.

Several Democratic lawmakers spoke to NBC News, on the condition of anonymity, about growing calls for Biden to step out of the race following his performance at the presidential debate on June 27.

In NBC News’ story published Thursday afternoon, one congressman told the outlet that Biden looked “frail and weak” at the State of the Union address in March. One House member said, “not one of them believes Biden should stay in the race,” among those that are text messaging.

A senator said the debate revealed some observations officials have made throughout Biden’s term as president.

“The country saw [at the debate] what those of us who have had personal interactions with him have all known for the last 2½ years,” the senator told NBC News.

A third Democratic lawmaker said Biden looked “exceedingly tired” when they were together. The source also said there were times this year when Biden seemed “far from optimal” and that the debate showed the “worst” version of Biden. However, the third lawmaker said, “it was not an aberration.”

The calls for Biden to end his campaign are not from a place of disdain for the president, according to the third lawmaker.

“There is a great deal of love for this man and his family. And there is great deal of bewilderment among us about why he, and the people around him who presumably love him, are letting him take his historical legacy and throw it down the drain,” the lawmaker said.

The lawmaker emphasized what losing the election could mean for Biden.

“If he loses to [Donald] Trump after that debate, that will be on his tombstone instead of his achievements. It’s an absolutely legacy-defining moment,” this lawmaker said.

One week after the CNN presidential debate, polls suggest former President Trump has gained ground against Biden.

Several polls have been released following the debate, many of which show Trump with a lead over Biden. But several polls have shown little or no change in the numbers since the debate.

Newsweek reached out to the Biden campaign, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer‘s office and the Democratic National Committee for comment on Thursday night.

Several Democrats have publicly called on Biden to end his campaign, including two members of the House of Representatives, Arizona Representative Raúl Grijalva and Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett.

Doggett said Biden should “make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw” in a statement.

“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 Tuesday.

Grijalva said he would support Biden if he were the candidate, but he also thinks the party should explore other options.

“What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race,” Grijalva told The New York Times Wednesday.

Other Democrats, however, have rejected calls for him to step down.

“I heard three words from the President tonight — he’s all in. And so am I. @JoeBiden’s had our back. Now it’s time to have his,” California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has often been named as a potential replacement, posted to X.

Biden and his team have said the president will remain in the race despite growing calls for him to step down.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden “is clear-eyed and he is staying in the race” at a press conference on Wednesday.

On Friday, ABC News’ primetime interview with Biden will air at 8 p.m. ET.

The interview will be the first televised interview for the Democratic incumbent since last week’s CNN presidential debate. The first clip will still air on “World News Tonight” on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET.