Top House Democrat to Hold Weekend Meeting as Anxiety Builds Over Biden’s Presidential Bid

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has unexpectedly scheduled a weekend meeting with top Democratic colleagues, sparking growing anxiety within the party about whether Joe Biden should continue his presidential campaign. The meeting, set for Sunday afternoon, comes as a growing number of Democrats are questioning Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump and his physical and mental stamina for another four-year term.

Despite the Democratic establishment’s public support for Biden’s campaign, some lawmakers have begun to break ranks. Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota has publicly called for Biden to step aside, while Representative Mike Quigley of Illinois told MSNBC that he shouldn’t run. The move has sent shockwaves through the party, with some lawmakers privately expressing concerns about the down-ballot effects of Biden’s debate performance and the impact it could have on their own re-election bids.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner of Virginia has also been discussing the possibility of meeting with Biden, according to a source familiar with the conversations. Warner believes Biden has a lot of work to do to prove he can defeat Trump and should remain the nominee. The meeting, which has been confirmed by a House Democratic official, has not been given a specific topic, but it is expected to take place just a day before the House reconvenes in Washington following Biden’s disastrous debate performance with Trump on June 27.

The planned meeting comes ahead of a broader, caucus-wide closed-door meeting scheduled for July 9, where House Democrats will discuss their concerns about Biden’s candidacy. Some lawmakers are publicly questioning whether Biden has the mental and physical stamina to continue in the race, while others are privately expressing worries about the impact of the debate fallout on their own re-election bids.

In a statement, Biden denied reports that Senate Democrats were planning to call on him to exit the race, saying that only Senator Mark Warner was considering doing so. However, a Democratic senator told Bloomberg earlier this week that several of his colleagues have privately indicated they don’t see a way for Biden to survive politically.

The growing unease within the party has led some lawmakers to call for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. Representative Mike Quigley, for example, said that Biden’s legacy is already secure and that the only way to prevent “utter catastrophe” is for him to step down and let someone else take over the campaign.

Publicly, Jeffries has remained supportive of Biden, but he has been fielding calls from rank-and-file members who are expressing their concerns. The meeting on Sunday is expected to be a key moment in the party’s internal debate about Biden’s future in the race.

Historical Context:

The article is set against the backdrop of the 2024 United States presidential election, where Joe Biden is the Democratic Party’s incumbent candidate. The meeting between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and top Democratic colleagues is significant because it marks a growing unease within the party about Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump and his physical and mental stamina for another four-year term. This comes after Biden’s disappointing debate performance with Trump on June 27, which has sparked concerns among lawmakers about the down-ballot effects on their own re-election bids.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has scheduled a weekend meeting with top Democratic colleagues, sparking anxiety within the party about Joe Biden’s presidential bid. • The meeting comes as a growing number of Democrats question Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump and his physical and mental stamina for another four-year term. • Some lawmakers, including Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota, have publicly called for Biden to step aside, while others, like Representative Mike Quigley of Illinois, have said he shouldn’t run. • Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner of Virginia is also considering meeting with Biden to discuss his candidacy. • The meeting is expected to take place just a day before the House reconvenes in Washington, following Biden’s disastrous debate performance with Trump on June 27. • A broader, caucus-wide closed-door meeting is scheduled for July 9, where House Democrats will discuss their concerns about Biden’s candidacy. • Some lawmakers are privately expressing worries about the impact of the debate fallout on their own re-election bids. • Biden has denied reports that Senate Democrats are planning to call on him to exit the race, but a Democratic senator has indicated that several colleagues have privately expressed doubts about his ability to survive politically. • Representative Mike Quigley has called for Biden to withdraw from the race, saying his legacy is already secure and that the only way to prevent “utter catastrophe” is for him to step down. • Publicly, Jeffries has remained supportive of Biden, but he has been fielding calls from rank-and-file members who are expressing their concerns. • The meeting on Sunday is expected to be a key moment in the party’s internal debate about Biden’s future in the race.