Former Texas Congressmen Urge President Biden to Step Down from 2024 Ticket

Five Former Texas Congressmen Urge President Biden to Step Down from 2024 Ticket

In a surprising turn of events, five former Texas congressmen have joined other Democrats in urging President Joe Biden to step down from the top of the party’s 2024 ticket. Former U.S. Reps. Michael Andrews, John Bryant, Chet Edwards, Charlie Gonzalez, and Max Sandlin released a letter to Biden and top Democrats in the House and Senate, expressing their concerns.

“We know that this is a difficult decision, but it would in no way diminish what you have done for the United States and the American people in your distinguished career,” they wrote in the letter. “Rather, it would help ensure that those achievements remain, and that democracy continues. Additionally, it would further cement the reputation you have earned of putting country first.”

The letter comes ahead of Biden’s upcoming visit to Austin, where he is set to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the LBJ Presidential Library. Since his poor debate performance last month, Biden has faced increasing pressure from donors, pundits, and elected Democrats calling for someone else to take his place as the nominee.

While U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin was the first Democrat in Congress to publicly urge Biden to step aside, most Democrats in the Texas congressional delegation have expressed support for the president after the debate. The Biden campaign has acknowledged the concerns within the party but maintains that there is no reason to believe another Democrat would perform better against former President Donald Trump.

Despite the growing calls for him to step down, Biden has been working to demonstrate his capabilities with a busy schedule of meetings and public appearances. During a recent news conference marking a NATO summit, he pushed back at suggestions that his campaign is struggling, emphasizing his qualifications to govern and win.

One of the letter writers, John Bryant, who served in Congress for 14 years before returning to the Texas House in 2022, said his decision to sign the letter was driven by concerns about defeating Trump and preserving democracy. While he believes Biden has been a great president, he expressed worries about the president’s standing in key battleground states.

As Republicans gear up for their national convention next week, where they will make the case for Trump’s policies, the Democratic turmoil surrounding Biden’s candidacy is sure to be a focal point. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, recently introduced a resolution urging Vice President Kamala Harris to declare Biden unfit for office under the 25th Amendment.

Bryant, who is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention next month, said he trusts the convention delegates to pick Biden’s replacement. In their letter, Bryant and the other former congressmen emphasized the need to encourage a new generation of leaders, quoting Ecclesiastes: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”