Unanimity on Biden eludes Nevada’s congressional Democrats

Nevada Democratic Reps. Steven Horsford, Susie Lee and Dina Titus on stage at a rally featuring Barack Obama in North Las Vegas Nov. 1, 2022. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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U.S. Rep. Susie Lee says Democrats need to discuss their future as some in the party call for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race because of concerns about his mental acuity. But Lee’s colleagues in the Nevada delegation who responded to the Current are standing with Biden.

On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden called a news report that he is evaluating the possibility of abandoning the campaign “absolutely false.” Biden has attributed his poor debate performance last week against Republican rival former President Donald Trump to exhaustion from travel and a cold.

Biden’s assertion that he’s not quitting the race comes as at least one Democrat in Congress publicly calls for him to withdraw.

Lee, whose congressional district is considered the most competitive in the state, told the Wall Street Journal the debate “was awful.” According to the WSJ, “she didn’t know whether another Democrat would be better positioned to beat Trump in November. But she said Democrats ‘absolutely’ need to talk about how to move forward after the debate.”

Her campaign declined to say whether Lee has since engaged in any discussions. 

“The fact that we are even having this discussion means that Democrats are a lot less afraid of Biden retaliating than Republicans are of Trump retaliating,” says Dr. Rebecca Gill, associate professor of political science at UNLV. “But at the same time, these folks need to get reelected.  A big source of money for their campaigns comes from staying loyal to the team.”

Annette Magnus, owner of AM Consulting, says Democrats routinely “distance themselves from the incumbent during a presidential election, and I don’t necessarily think it is a symptom of the debate, but rather a tough race. I think Jacky Rosen is going to have a hard race. I think Susie Lee is going to have a tough race. Moderating their positions is normal.” 

Nevada’s U.S. Senators, both Democrats, are standing by the Biden ticket. 

“There is a clear choice for voters this November between an administration focused on lowering costs, growing the middle class, and restoring reproductive freedom and Trump’s MAGA agenda that would ban abortion and devastate hardworking Nevada families,” a spokesperson for Sen. Jacky Rosen said in a statement that didn’t mention Biden’s name. “Senator Rosen is focused on her own reelection campaign and continuing her track record as one of the most bipartisan, independent, and effective Senators.”

Rosen is facing a competitive race with Republican Sam Brown. In her campaign ads, she has emphasized her independence and bi-partisan accomplishments.

Gill of UNLV said senators in high-profile races are engaged in a balancing act, noting some “are running ahead of Biden right now, so they’re not worried about the coattails. They might be worried that having him on the ticket could suppress voter turnout, because it’s going to suppress enthusiasm.”

Rosen, she added, “has to be concerned about all the implications,” even though she has a lead in recent polls.

Rosen’s campaign did not address inquiries about the potential for an enthusiasm gap among Democrat voters disheartened by Biden’s candidacy.

“We should all be worried about the enthusiasm gap, specifically with nonpartisan voters and young people,” says Magnus. “But that was the case before the debate. And it’s not just with Joe Biden, but down the ticket, too.” 

Lauren Wodarski, spokesperson for Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, said Biden and his administration “have a proven track record of fighting for hardworking Nevada families, and Senator Cortez Masto is confident they will continue to do so. From reproductive freedom to the future of our democracy, Nevadans understand the stakes of this election.” 

Rep. Dina Titus said in a statement she’s known and worked with Biden for a long time, adding his debate performance “was not his best.” Titus praised Biden’s work on protecting abortion, recovering from the pandemic, and creating jobs via federal investment. “All of that will stop if Donald Trump is back in the White House.”

Rep. Steven Horsford, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, did not respond to the Current’s request for comment.

Biden is scheduled to engage in several high stakes, unscripted interviews in the coming days, in an effort to restore public confidence in his competence.

“If he’s not looking spry, and on top of it for that, then I think I would say that would up the chances that he would step aside,” Gill said.

Magnus is admonishing Democrats to be patient.

“They really need to be careful,” she said. “There’s too much at stake.”

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