House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has scheduled a virtual meeting for Sunday afternoon with top committee Democrats amidst mounting concerns over President Joe Biden’s viability in the presidential race.
According to a House Democratic official familiar with the plan, the meeting has been confirmed but the specific agenda has not been disclosed by Jeffries, who hails from New York.
The call for the meeting on Friday by Jeffries comes amid increasing dissent among Democratic lawmakers, some of whom are diverging from the party’s leadership that continues to stand by Biden following his lackluster performance in the June 27 debate against former President Donald Trump.
Despite affirming his support for Biden, Jeffries is reportedly fielding concerns from rank-and-file lawmakers regarding the president’s political prospects.
Several House Democrats, including Representatives Lloyd Doggett of Texas, Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Mike Quigley of Illinois, and Angie Craig of Minnesota, have publicly advocated for Biden to withdraw from the race, as reported by Axios.
Meanwhile, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner and other Democrats are contemplating a meeting with Biden. Jeffries’ meeting is scheduled just a day before the House reconvenes for its first session following the Biden-Trump debate.
Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who recently suggested a “mini primary” should Biden step aside, was scheduled to discuss the president on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” but canceled his appearance, according to an announcement by the network on Saturday.
Despite affirming his commitment to continue in the race in an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Friday, Biden faces skepticism within his own party. An unnamed Democratic senator informed Bloomberg earlier this week that an increasing number of colleagues doubt Biden’s ability to overcome Trump and secure victory.