Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig becomes 5th Democratic lawmaker to urge Biden to quit 2024 race

Rachel Barber, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., became the fifth House Democrat to call for President Joe Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race Saturday.

After Biden's defiant first post-debate television interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos aired Friday, Craig released a statement asking Biden to make way for "a new generation of leaders to step forward." The president has been doing damage control in the week since his debate against former President Donald Trump as Democrats question his ability to win this fall. Craig joins fellow House Democrats Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley and Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva.

Democrats and Republicans are targeting Minnesota as a swing-state this year, although it has not voted for a Republican candidate in a presidential election in decades.

"Given what I saw and heard from the President during last week’s debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a forceful response from the President himself following that debate, I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump," Craig said.

Jan 4, 2023; Washington, D.C, USA; Jan. 4, 2023; Washington, D.C., USA - Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., left, and Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., center, listen to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in the House chamber.
Jan 4, 2023; Washington, D.C, USA; Jan. 4, 2023; Washington, D.C., USA - Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., left, and Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., center, listen to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in the House chamber.

She said while she respects Biden's decades of public service, there is too much on the line to risk a second Trump administration. Craig added that she would like to see an "open, fair, and transparent" Democratic process to select a new nominee ahead of November.

“If we truly believe that Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans must be stopped, there is only a small window left to make sure we have a candidate best equipped to make the case and win," Craig said. "This future of our country is bigger than any one of us. It’s up to the President from here.”

Democrats outside the House have also asked Biden to reevaluate his 2024 campaign, including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who is organizing a group of Democratic senators to ask Biden to drop out.

2024 election fellow Sam Woodward contributed to this report.

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig calls for Joe Biden to exit 2024 race