WASHINGTON – Arizona State Representative Raul Grijalva died on Wednesday Second Democrat in Congress publicly calling on President Joe Biden to end his bid for re-election, as many Democrats have continued voice concerns privately On Biden’s prospects after last week’s debate.
Grijalva said The New York Times If Biden is the nominee, “I’ll 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 getting out of this race.”
A spokesperson for Grijalva confirmed his comments on Tuesday.
Grijalva is a leading progressive voice on Capitol Hill, co-chairing the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, became the first Democrat to call on Biden to drop out on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
Responding to Grijalva’s remarks, a Biden campaign official pointed to efforts by Biden, his campaign and the White House to “address concerns raised after the debate,” including Biden’s participation in media interviews and campaign events, as well as plans to hold an event. press conference next week.
Democrats are scrambling behind the scenes as they debate whether Biden remains a viable candidate — and, for that matter, who could replace him at the top of the ticket.
Biden and his team close to the White House and campaign advisers say he is not leaving the race. In a call with campaign aides on Wednesday, Biden emphasized that he is staying in the race.
“Let me make this as clear as I can, as plain and simple as I can: I’m running,” Biden said, according to an official on the call. “No one bothers me. I’m not going. I am in this race until the end and we will win.”
Grijalva is the first Democrat from a vital state to call on Biden to step aside. Biden won Arizona in 2020 by a razor-thin margin, turning the state blue by just over 10,000 votes.
Both Doggett and Grijalva are in blue states and won their respective races in 2022. Doggett got 76.8% and Grijalva got 64.5%.
In explaining his decision to call for Biden to drop out, Doggett cited declining poll numbers and Biden’s debate performance.
“I represent the heart of the congressional district that Lyndon Johnson once represented. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw,” Doggett said in a statement Tuesday. “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.
Rep. Nanette Barragán, the chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, told NBC News that she was not aware that Grijalva planned to call on Biden to step down.
“You’re always surprised when you don’t know something’s coming,” he said. “And I didn’t talk to him.”
Julie Tsirkin contributed.