Politics
Rep. Mike Quigley Reiterates Call for President Joe Biden to Step Aside: ‘He Can’t Win and My Colleagues Need to Recognize That’
Video: U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley speaks to reporters before a meeting of House Democrats in Washington on July 9, 2024. (Credit: CNN)
Days after he became the first high-profile Democrat in Illinois to call on President Joe Biden to step aside, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley on Tuesday reiterated that stance.
As lawmakers began to arrive Tuesday morning for what is expected to be a lengthy meeting in Washington, D.C., with congressional Democrats, Quigley was asked by reporters about his position on the president’s campaign.
“The fighting spirit, and pride, and courage that served the country so well four years ago and helped Joe Biden win will bring the ticket down this time,” Quigley said. “He just has to step down because he can’t win and my colleagues need to recognize that. A dismissive letter is not going to change any minds.”
Caucus Chairman U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar billed the Tuesday meeting as a family chat among lawmakers.
Quigley joined a handful of House Democrats who told House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that Biden should step aside in a call on Sunday, according to CNN.
The calls came after Biden’s lackluster debate performance last month. In recent days, Biden has traveled to swing states and sat down for an interview with ABC News in an effort to keep his reelection bid on track.
In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden firmly expressed his intent to stay in the race against Republican challenger former President Donald Trump.
Biden wrote that “the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end.”
Biden will join NATO leaders Tuesday for the start of a summit.
The Associated Press and CNN Newsource contributed.
