MINNEAPOLIS — As the 2024 presidential election gets closer, more Republicans and Democrats are speaking out about their choice for president. On Saturday morning a local representative became the 5th Democrat to call for President Joe Biden to step aside.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig issued a statement and said in part:
"I have great respect for President Biden’s decades of service to our nation and his steadfast commitment to making our country a better place... However, given what I saw and heard from the President during last week’s debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a forceful response from the President himself following that debate, I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump."
In the statement, Craig continued, underlining that she hadn't come to the decision lightly, but felt there was "too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency."
This outcry follows a "disastrous" debate between President Biden and former president Donald Trump.
Following Craig's statement, Minnesota State Rep. Matt Klein (DFL-Mendota Heights) said on social media he agreed with the congresswoman.
Other Democrats, including Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, called on Biden to leave the race this week. On Wednesday, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) told the New York Times the president needs to "shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race." Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton said on the following day in an interview with WBUR that President Biden should bow out of the upcoming election. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) said in an interview on MSNBC "Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude."
RELATED: Rep. Lloyd Doggett is first Democrat to publicly call for Biden to step down as party's nominee
Watch more Minnesota politics:
Watch the latest political coverage from the Land of 10,000 Lakes in our YouTube playlist:
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.