Dozens of House Democrats are reportedly planning to speak out against President Joe Biden’s status as the de facto nominee for their party, breaking a pause in Democrat infighting that occurred after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The rebellion comes amidst a media cycle focused on the Republican National Convention and the announcement of Trump’s vice-presidential pick.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) is leading an effort to draft a letter expressing opposition to Biden’s nomination, which has circulated among House Democrats. Although the letter does not explicitly call for Biden to withdraw from the race, it represents the first public signal of dissent within the Democratic Party since the assassination attempt on Trump. Many Democrats who have privately urged their colleagues to call on Biden to end his campaign see this as a potentially pivotal moment in the party’s internal struggle over Biden’s candidacy.
The Democratic National Committee is reportedly planning to move up its technical nominating process in an effort to quash any opposition to Biden’s nomination in August, according to multiple media reports on Tuesday. This maneuver by team Biden aims to help the president outlast calls for him to step aside after his poor performance during the presidential debate and subsequent assassination attempt on Trump.
Despite weeks of negative news coverage, President Biden still has a strong chance of receiving the nomination in Chicago. After calling for unity following the assassination attempt, the Biden campaign plans to resume its attacks against Trump in Nevada on Tuesday. The president will continue framing his opponent as a threat to democracy amidst this turbulent period for both parties.