Category Archives: Democrat

Up First briefing: Up-and-coming Democrats; Labour wins U.K. election Biden says he's staying in the 2024 race. If he changes his mind, these Democrats could be potential candidates, this year or in 2028. And, Labour gets a historic victory in the U.K. elections.

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Britains Labour Party won a landslide election victory, giving its leader, Keir Starmer, one of the largest parliamentary majorities in British history. This victory marks the return of a center-left government after 14 years of Conservative government. Outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivered brief remarks, telling voters, "There is much to learn and reflect on, and I take responsibility for the loss."

Labour Leader Keir Starmer celebrates winning the 2024 general election with a speech at Tate Modern in London on Friday. Ricky Vigil/Getty Images Europe hide caption

American taxpayers are throwing tons of money at the Colorado River. The funds aim to help the 40 million people who rely on the river to squeeze out every last drop as climate change shrinks its flow to critical levels. Drinking water, food production and hydroelectric power are all at risk.

Florida is one of the states most vulnerable to climate change in the U.S. Residents face hurricanes, sea level rise and heat waves. Its also solidly Republican, with a Republican governor, two Republican senators and Republican majorities in the state legislature. This fall, the state is expected to vote for Donald Trump, who has questioned the existence of manmade climate change.

The fallout from last week's U.S. presidential debate continues to stir political turmoil. President Biden insists he's staying in the race despite calls from some Democrats to reconsider following concerns about his weak debate performance. This debate poses a critical question for the party and the public: If not Biden, then who? Here's a list of potential candidates being discussed for this year or possibly 2028.

Vehicles drive toward downtown Minneapolis on Interstate 35 in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, May 26, 2024. Jenn Ackerman for NPR hide caption

This essay was written by Dara Kerr, NPR business desk reporter.

Uber and Lyft drivers have rallied for minimum wage in cities and states nationwide for years. But something strange caught my attention in Minnesota last year. First, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz vetoed a minimum wage bill that had passed the state legislature in 2023. Then, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey did the same with a minimum wage ordinance that passed the City Council.

It seemed like something was up. Both Walz and Frey are labor-friendly Democrats who say they support fair pay for ride-hail drivers.

So, I filed public records requests asking for emails between Uber and Lyft and the governor's and mayors offices. Those documents revealed the companies lobbying playbook.

Uber and Lyft barraged the politicians with emails. The companies collected veto request letters from community groups, sent statistics on skyrocketing ride fares (without citing data), and suggested language for the lawmakers to use in announcements. Uber and Lyft threatened to leave the city or state if a minimum wage went into effect.

At one point, a lobbyist said the proposed minimum wage would have a catastrophic impact and create transportation deserts. Spokespeople for Uber and Lyft told NPR that the bills would have left the companies unable to sustain their businesses in Minnesota.

How did it work out? Heres what happened after a lot of twists and turns for the drivers, politicians and Uber and Lyfts lobbyists.

Crystal Wilkinson's praisesong biscuits Felix Cruz hide caption

Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:

Movies: Netflix's A Family Affair stars Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron in a fun romcom where a boss tries to woo his assistants mom. Pop Culture Happy Hour's Linda Holmes says it works well as a romcom because of its star power, solid writing and directing.

TV: Watchers, were in for a long, hot summer. If you are stuck inside and need a new show to watch, our critics have you covered. Theyve scoured broadcast and streaming options to recommend the best shows for June, July and August.

Books: It's Been A Minute host Brittany Luse says the biscuits in Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks are the best shes ever tasted. Author and former Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson joins Luse to talk about Appalachian food culture, turning oral recipes into written ones, and the emotional connections between food, family and memory.

Music: Public radio stations are always looking for new artists to slot in between your favorite established musicians on the air. Ten NPR member stations share a favorite emerging act thats made it into their 2024 rotations.

Quiz: What else celebrated its birthday on the Fourth? If you know the answer, congrats: you must follow NPR's coverage closely! Hint: There's also a non-political debate bonus.

The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue has agreed to buy rival luxury department store Neiman Marcus. Lynne Sladky/AP hide caption

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

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Up First briefing: Up-and-coming Democrats; Labour wins U.K. election - NPR

In the week since his highly criticized performance in the first televised debate of the 2024 presidential election, President Biden has remained defiant in the face of growing concern about his fitness for reelection.

But his efforts to reassure voters of his ability to beat former President Donald Trump a second time have done little to suppress the mounting pressure from his party and a volley of pundits for him to reconsider his candidacy.

Five elected Democrats have now called for Biden to step aside in his reelection bid, and a number of other party leaders have voiced concerns.

A string of editorials from mainstream news outlets calling for Biden to suspend his reelection campaign have been followed by reports like one published by the New York Times on Tuesday about Bidens increasingly common and worrisome mental lapses. On Wednesday, Bloomberg Government reported that dozens of Democratic lawmakers are considering signing a letter demanding President Joe Biden withdraw from the race, citing a senior party official.

Biden, meanwhile, has shown no signs of backing down. He sat for his first post-debate interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulos on Friday and rallied in Wisconsin before campaigning in Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Yahoo News has compiled a running list of all the Democrats who have publicly expressed concerns about Biden continuing his campaign in the wake of the debate. Check back here as this article will be continually updated.

Rep. Angie Craig

Craig, a Democrat who represents Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, issued a statement on Saturday, hours after the ABC interview, for Biden to step aside in the 2024 race.

While noting her respect for Biden's "decades of service," Craig said "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.

"This is not a decision I've come to lightly, but there is simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency," she added, before calling on Biden to drop out of the race and "allow for a new generation of leaders to step forward."

"There is only a small window left to make sure we have a candidate best equipped to make the case and win," Craig said.

Rep. Mike Quigley

Quigley, an Illinois Democrat, on Friday became the fourth House Democrat to call on Biden to exit the presidential race.

"Mr. President, your legacy is set," he said on MSNBC. "We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude. The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this."

Quigley affirmed his decision in comments following Biden's ABC News interview Friday.

The Illinois representative had previously publicly expressed reservations about Biden continuing his campaign, urging the president to "appreciate at this time just how much it impacts not just his race, but all the other races that are coming in November."

Rep. Seth Moulton

Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and Iraq war vet, became the third House Democrat to call on Biden to step aside on Thursday. He did so in an interview with Boston radio station WBUR.

"President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding father, George Washington's footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump," Moulton told WBUR.

Moulton said the mechanism for choosing a new candidate was "yet to be determined" and could include "some sort of primary process" or that Vice President Kamala Harris could emerge as the presidential nominee.

On Wednesday, Moulton had released a statement that had stopped short of calling for Biden to exit, but had recommended "all viable options" be on the table.

Rep. Ral Grijalva

Grijalva became the second House Democrat to call on Biden to drop out. In an interview, he said, "If hes the candidate, Im going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere."

"What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat," he continued, "and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett

Doggett was the first Democrat in office to publicly call for Biden to drop out. In a statement, which circulated on X on July 2, Doggett, of Texas, said Bidens debate performance did not reassure voters and Biden failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trumps lies.

Following Biden's ABC News interview Friday, Doggett said the "need" for Biden to step aside was growing more urgent every day.

Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan

Ryan published an opinion piece for Newsweek on July 1 that called for Kamala Harris to be the new Democratic nominee.

We have to rip the band aid off! Too much is at stake, Ryan wrote in an X post linking out to his article. Its time!

Gov. Maura Healey

The first-term Massachusetts Democrat issued a statement Friday urging Biden to "listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump."

Healey stopped short of calling for Biden to step aside and praised the president by saying he "saved our Democracy in 2020 and has done an outstanding job over the last four years."

"Whatever President Biden decides, I am committed to doing everything in my power to defeat Donald Trump," Healey added.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Perez stopped short of officially calling on Biden to drop out in an interview with an ABC affiliate on July 3. The Washington congresswoman said, The truth, I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump. I think the damage has been done by that debate.

Rep. Summer Lee

CBS News reported that during a radio interview, Lee, of Pennsylvania, said that the vice president is the obvious choice for the nominee should Biden decide to drop out.

Rep. Ann McLane Kuster

Kuster, who is the chair of the New Democrat Coalition, told CNN on July 3 that she has conveyed concerns to the White House and the Biden campaign.

In order to respond to our constituents concerns, we need to demonstrate that the president is fit not just for the job but for the campaign, said the New Hampshire congresswoman. They [the insurrectionists] almost killed me on Jan. 6. The stakes are very high. Im trying to save our democracy.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

While Pelosi was a vocal supporter of Biden over the weekend, during a July 2 interview with MSNBC, she pulled back slightly, saying, I think its a legitimate question to say, Is this an episode or is this a condition? of both candidates.

Rep. James Clyburn

Like Pelosi, Clyburn seemed to soften his previous stance on Biden continuing to run in an interview with MSNBC.

I will support [Harris] if [Biden] were to step aside, the South Carolina congressman said.

Former Obama official and former mayor of San Antonio, Julin Castro

Castro told MSNBC on Tuesday that there are strong options out there for Democrats we have a lot of stable folks that I think could do a better job, including Vice President Harris.

Rep. Jared Golden

In an opinion piece published in a local Maine paper titled Donald Trump is going to win the election and democracy will be just fine, Golden said he was not surprised by Bidens debate performance.

The outcome of this election has been clear to me for months: While I dont plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And Im OK with that, Golden wrote. The Maine congressman added that he did not plan to vote for Trump. Unlike Biden and many others, I refuse to participate in a campaign to scare voters with the idea that Trump will end our democratic system.

Sen. Peter Welch

In an interview with Semafor, Welch, of Vermont, criticized the Biden campaign's dismissive attitude regarding his debate performance.

Passivity is not the response that is going to work for us. We all have to be self-conscious, he said. We all have to be acutely aware that our obligation is to the country, even more than the party. Thats the obligation we have whats best for the country.

Rep. Debbie Dingell

One interview isnt going to fix this, Dingell, of Michigan, said in an interview with CNN. I think the campaigns got to listen to people. And by the way, I think the campaign needs to listen to us.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

In a July 1 interview with CBS affiliate WPRI, Whitehouse, of Rhode Island, said he was pretty horrified after watching the debate.

I have never seen that happen before, he said about Bidens performance. I think people want to make sure that this is a campaign thats ready to go and win, that the president and his team are being candid with us about his condition, that this was a real anomaly and not just the way he is these days.

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Here are the Democrats who are calling for Biden to end his reelection bid or voicing concerns about his candidacy - Yahoo! Voices

They are lawyers and school board members, labor activists and faith leaders, lifelong Democrats and party newcomers. Some of them just turned 18, others are pushing 80.

These are the people who make up the 3,939 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Some are elected, and some are selected each state party has its own rules for what is normally a ceremonial task: nominating their candidate for president.

But in the still unlikely scenario in which President Biden steps down as the nominee, they will suddenly be charged with picking a new nominee at the convention next month in Chicago.

Most of these delegates did not set out to become kingmakers in the Democratic Party, but rather to be part of a pro-Biden slate pledging support to the president. But in the event Mr. Biden drops out, they would be vaulted from the obscurity of extras at a quadrennial television extravaganza into a group with the fate of the party and, in the view of many Democrats, the future of the country on their shoulders.

Many are loath to even consider that as an option, remaining steadfastly loyal to the president as he affirms his commitment to remaining in the race. And some find themselves overwhelmed by the possibility.

Phil Swanhorst, the chair of the Eau Claire County Democrats in Wisconsin and a first-time delegate, said that with all the turmoil going on, he did not want to discuss what he would do as a free delegate if released from his pledged status. Instead, he said he would follow the guidance of Ben Wikler, the chair of the state party.

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These Obscure Democrats Could Soon Become Kingmakers - The New York Times

Democratic Party leaders swiftly and unequivocally ruled out the idea that President Biden would or should step aside after his shaky performance at the first presidential debate. But there was a palpable sense of anxiety on Capitol Hill on Friday morning about what it would mean for his campaign and their own re-election chances.

We have a great team of people that will help govern, said Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat of California and an official Biden surrogate responsible for reaching out to young voters. That is what Im going to continue to make the case for.

When asked if he could vouch for the president, Mr. Khanna only said, I can vouch for our policies.

Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California and a former House speaker, acknowledged that from a performance standpoint, it wasnt great. But, she added, from a values standpoint, it far outshone the other guy. Ms. Pelosi, a longtime booster of Mr. Bidens candidacy, said that she did not think Mr. Biden should step aside as the partys presidential nominee and that she did not know of anyone pushing him to do so.

Im not doing it, and I dont know anyone whos doing it, she said.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and the House minority leader, also said that he did not think Mr. Biden should step aside, despite the increased concerns about his age and his ability to do the job.

Still, Democrats said they were concerned, not only about the White House but also about their prospects of winning back control of the House of Representatives and keeping control of the Senate. On Friday morning, many Democrats were speed-walking into the House chamber to avoid questions from reporters.

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Pelosi and Other Leading Democrats React to Bidens Debate Performance - The New York Times

After President Joe Biden's dismal performance at the presidential debate on Thursday evening, there have been calls to replace him with another Democrat, but former President Donald Trump leads other potential opponents in the polls.

While Biden did provide numerous policies that his administration has implemented during his tenure, he did not deliver them well. He spoke incoherently and failed to meet hopes from the Democratic Party that their preemptive nominee would look youthful and energetic on the CNN stage in Atlanta. A Biden aide, meanwhile, told Newsweek late Thursday night that the president was battling a cold during the debate.

Following Thursday's debate Johanna Maska, a Democratic consultant and former Barack Obama aide, posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, urging her party to change its 2024 presidential candidate. She said: "We cannot do this, Democrats. Joe Biden can't put a sentence together. We have to change our candidate, and we have so many good candidates who are sitting on the sidelines."

Newsweek reached out to Biden and Trump's campaigns via email as well as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) via online form for comment.

So, how do other Democrats fare against Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee?

In a hypothetical matchup between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump leads by an average of 6.6 percentage points, according to poll aggregator Real Clear Polling. It is important to note that the polling data is from last November to February.

In an Emerson College poll conducted between February 13 and 14, Trump received 46 percent of the vote while Harris received 43 percent. The poll surveyed 1,225 U.S. registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.

In the same poll, when Trump was up against California Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump lead by 10 percentage points (46 to 36 percent). Meanwhile, Trump had an even bigger lead in a hypothetical matchup between him and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (45 to 33 percent).

Newsom did even worse against Trump in a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted from March 5 to 7. Trump led Newsom by 17 percentage points (51 to 34 percent) in the survey of 912 U.S. likely voters. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Meanwhile, former first lady Michelle Obama also trailed behind Trump in a hypothetical matchup (50 to 43 percent).

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's name has also been floated. In a Muhlenberg College poll conducted between November 20 and December 13, 2023, Shapiro lead Trump by 11 points in a hypothetical matchup (48 to 37 percent) in his state. The poll surveyed 421 registered voters in Pennsylvania and had a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.

Other names that have been floated are former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Trump in 2016; Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker; Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock; Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips, who ran a failed 2024 campaign against Biden until he dropped out of the race in early March.

Meanwhile, in an NBC News/Hart Research/Public Opinion Strategies poll conducted from November 10 to 14, a generic Democrat beat Trump by 6 points (46 to 40 percent). The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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Can Any Democrat Beat Trump? What Polls Show Amid Calls to Replace Biden - Newsweek

Q: My wife and I saw these buddleias (see reader's photo) at Oaklawn on June 7. Can you identify the variety?

A:I do not know the exact variety, but I can tell it is one of the new compact forms with large flowers. There are several series. The Pugster series from Proven Winners only grows 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide but produces large blooms. The Chrysalis series from Ball Seed has five color choices and grows up to 28 inches tall and wide. Other compact buddleias include the Flutterby Petite series and the Dapper series. They are all good plants for full sun. If I were a betting person, I would put money on the Pugster Blue, but that is just an educated guess.

Q: Can you identify this milkweed from the photograph (see reader's photo)? It has broad leaves, big fat seedpods; I do not know what color or type of flower. I thought it was swamp milkweed, but another gardener up here questions that.

A: It looks more like common milkweed to me -- Asclepias syriaca. It has larger leaves and wartier fruits than swamp milkweed in my observations.

Q:Are these seeds from an oak tree (see reader's photo)? Noticed several trees in the area that shed these.

A: Unfortunately, they aren't seeds, but droppings from a caterpillar feeding on the oak. So it is poop! The feeding of the caterpillars won't hurt the tree usually, but they can be a nuisance in large numbers, dropping debris on patios and swimming pools. The seeds of oak trees are acorns, and they aren't ripe just yet.

Q: About eight years or so ago, I planted two Amaryllis bulbs about 8 feet apart in my yard out in the open full sun. In the ensuing years, I haven't mulched, fertilized or in any other way worked on these plantings. They die back yearly, and the foliage piles up on top. Come spring, they grow beautifully and have spread to a couple clumps of them about 3 feet across. Presently they have scads of beautiful pink blooms and lush foliage. They've never been watered, fertilized or in any way cared for. The horrid cold in recent years has apparently not harmed them in any way, and I'm not sure whether I have some "super plants" or what accounts for the above stated! I'm in my early 80s and debility -- not laziness --accounts for my lack of active care of the plants. Does this sound reasonable to you -- given the horrid winters we've had recently?

A: I don't think you have a special variety, but it is a bit of an anomaly. If you read about amaryllis bulbs and hardiness, it shouldn't overwinter in Arkansas' outdoors, but many gardeners have had the same experience you have. Winter drainage will be important because waterlogged soils could make them rot. Obviously, yours have the perfect location and are happy. If it isn't broke, don't fix it! Enjoy.

Q: In order to cut down the height on my corn plant, which is 42 years old, I just saw off the top and replant in new soil. It has previously done well, but this year the prettiest part was looking good, and I took it to my granddaughter's house. As we unloaded it in the sunshine, I realized it had about 7 inches of black residue on the stalk. I smelled it, and part of the mildew smell that I had attributed to the floor after I let a couple plants run over when I overwatered them was coming from the plant. The plant was beautiful and thriving, but I'm afraid the mildew will kill the plant. How can I treat this?

A: My guess is that you have some sooty mold, a byproduct that grows on sticky honeydew -- the droppings given off by sucking insects such as aphids or scale. Check the plant for insects and control those. You can wash off the black sooty mold. Once the insects are dead and not giving off honeydew, you shouldn't have any more mold.

[Gallery not loading above? Click here for more photos arkansasonline.com/carson629/]

By the way, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette wants to see photos of your garden. Submit your photo here to be entered to win a $10 gift card for a local nursery. Submitted photos will also be featured in an ArkansasOnline gallery.

Retired after 38 years with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Janet Carson ranks among Arkansas' best known horticulture experts. Her blog is at arkansasonline.com/planitjanet. Write to her at P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203 or email IN THE GARDEN: Buddleias love the full sunjcarson@arkansasonline.com

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IN THE GARDEN: Buddleias love the full sun | Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Arkansas Online

If President Biden had weekend plans, he should cancel them in favor of some soul-searching. His calamitous debate performance on Thursday raises legitimate questions about whether hes up for another four years in the worlds toughest job. Its incumbent on this incumbent to determine, in conversation with family and aides, whether continuing to seek reelection is in the best interests of the country.

Former president Donald Trump proved emphatically on Thursday why preventing another Trump presidency is the paramount consideration. Mr. Biden faces a personal decision but also a presidential one: What would be best for the country, his personal feelings notwithstanding?

Despite the tenor of some of the insta-reaction to the debate, the choice is not easy. Mr. Biden clinched enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination three months ago. The only way Democrats can nominate someone else at their convention in Chicago seven weeks from now is if the president chooses to step aside. And that would be complicated. Whether it would be more chaotic than Mr. Biden remaining in the race is answerable only if one concludes things cant get worse.

Mr. Biden bowing out would not guarantee a Democratic victory in November. History does not provide any precise precedents, but its notable that Republican challengers prevailed in 1952 and 1968 after Presidents Harry S. Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson both opted not to seek reelection. In the second case, the Democratic convention also in Chicago that year descended into chaos amid protests over the war in Vietnam. The party wound up nominating Johnsons vice president, Hubert H. Humphrey.

Finding a suitable replacement this year, at the last minute, would be more difficult than it was in 1968, and the eventual candidate could emerge politically wounded, as Humphrey did. Mr. Biden has papered over schisms in the Democratic coalition between progressives and traditional liberals, democratic socialists and socially conservative minority voters that would instantly widen into chasms at an open convention. Turning automatically to Vice President Harris, who has struggled to grow into the No. 2 job after running a lackluster presidential campaign of her own five years ago, would pose risks, too.

So whats the 2024 Democratic Party to do? In this day and age, imposing a ticket from on high wont cut it. The best scenario, should Mr. Biden drop out, would be for the party to invite several interested candidates to consider running and ask them to spend the next seven weeks in a series of debates. The convention would then be thrown open to these candidates. The deciders would be Democratic convention delegates, not primary voters. But the process would be transparent.

Yet it would take even more than Mr. Bidens assent for this to happen. Ms. Harris would have to be willing to join in an open race, betting that she would rise to the top. In other words, it would require a degree of patriotism and self-sacrifice that is too often missing from modern politics (any politics, actually).

If Mr. Biden successfully passed the torch, he might be remembered as a 21st-century Cincinnatus a laudable president who shepherded the country out of the covid-19 pandemic, returned a sense of normalcy following the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, rallied the West to defend Ukraine against Russias full-scale invasion, and signed into law ambitious national climate and industrial plans. If he sticks it out and loses this fall, he risks a different sort of legacy, akin to the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose refusal to retire while Barack Obama was president led directly to Roe v. Wade being overturned.

Worse, the country would face the consequences of a second Trump term. Mr. Trump lied repeatedly during Thursdays debate, but he did so coherently and with ease. Mr. Biden was no match on the split-screen. Making a credible case against Mr. Trump requires a vigorous opponent. Mr. Biden didnt just suffer a senior moment or two. He repeatedly failed to rebut Mr. Trumps fire hose of falsehoods.

Mr. Biden sounded better at a rally in North Carolina on Friday. His defenders point out that he performed well during his State of the Union address in March. There is ample precedent for incumbents losing a first debate and going on to win reelection. If he forges ahead, Mr. Biden would have four months to rebut fears about his mental acuity and physical stamina. But occasional good performances are a shaky reed on which to balance an election of titanic consequence.

Little good ever came from panicking. Mr. Biden cannot be coerced into doing something he doesnt want to do. Nor should he be. What he can do is what many Americans are doing this weekend wondering whether he is up to the job.

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Opinion | How Biden and the Democrats should think through what to do now - The Washington Post

Concerns about President Joe Bidens age and ability to win a second term have churned within the Democratic Party party for more than a year. Those fears became much harder to ignore after Thursday night, when he struggled through a presidential debate against former President Donald Trump. The 81-year-old Biden fumbled his words, trailed off at points, and repeatedly lost his trains of thought.

Republicans mercilessly mocked the showing and Democrats spiraled into open panic.

At present, there is no clear-cut mechanism to replace Biden as the party's nomineehe already won more than enough delegates during the primaries to secure his nomination ahead of the Democrats national convention in August.

Still, there are ways for Democrats to end up with someone other than Biden at the top of the ticket, especially if Biden willingly steps asidebut the timing, and the Democratic National Committees own regulations, has a lot to do with whats possible, let alone plausible. (Not to mention the challenge of settling on a replacement.)

Here are some of the scenarios for how a Democrat other than Biden could become the party's presidential nominee.

In 1968, Lyndon B. Johnson, then-President and the frontrunner for the Democratic Partys nomination, shocked the country by announcing that he would neither seek nor accept his partys nomination. The announcement came after he almost lost in the New Hampshire primary to Eugene McCarthy.

Then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who was nominated for President at the convention later that year, eventually lost to Republican nominee Richard Nixon after a campaign season that saw Robert F. Kennedy gunned down in Los Angeles and George McGovern briefly joining as a stand-in for that vein of liberalism.

Biden has made no such announcement. But if he does decide to withdraw from the race in the coming weeks, delegates will be able to nominate a new candidate, though rules that vary by state will govern who they can back instead.

According to Rule 13, Section J, of the DNCs delegate selection rules, delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in good conscience reflect the sentiment of those who elected them.

This scenario would formally set off an intense fight for the party nomination among those with the name recognition and reputation to sway enough delegates in a very short period. Along with Vice President Kamala Harris, people who may actively vie for the nomination could include Governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gavin Newsom of California, and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois

Because of a quirk in Ohio law which had required all candidates to be legally certified by Aug. 7more than a week ahead of Bidens scheduled nomination at the convention that opens in Chicago on Aug. 19Democrats are set to formally nominate Biden in a virtual roll call weeks before the convention. (Ohio lawmakers recently passed a law to iron out that quirk, but the DNC has said that the virtual roll call will continue just to be safe.)

Biden may choose to reject the virtual nomination, which was meant to be a formality, setting up delegates to select a new nominee at the Democratic Partys in-person convention, where delegates will still participate in a traditional roll call.

Despite some loud protest votes in primaries, Biden has won a strong majority of the delegates: of an estimated 3,937 pledged delegates assigned in the primaries held so far, Biden is slated to arrive at the DNC confab in Chicago in August with 3,894 promised to be with him on the first vote. The extent to which those delegates are obligated to stick with Biden varies, based on state-by-state rules.

Also in play are 739 automatic delegatesor so-called superdelegates. Those are the party insiders like ex-Presidents, union chiefs, and mega-donors who can vote for anyone they want. In 2018, the party chose to reduce the influence of superdelegates on the nomination process, agreeing that superdelegates would not automatically get to vote on the first ballot.

On paper, the math remains in Bidens favor if he continues to want the nomination. Absent Biden releasing the pledged delegates and state rules allowing such flexibility, theyre with Biden through at least the first round of balloting.

But there are still ways for delegates to, essentially, stage a revolt. This is where Convention Chair Minyon Moore comes in. Under DNC rules, a ruling from the chair can shut down almost anything. Bypassing the ruling of the convention chair would require 25% of the delegates demanding a roll call vote.

Confused yet? Its about to get worse: every DNC jurisdictionthats each of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., American territories, and a jurisdiction representing Democrats who live abroadhas slightly different rules for how to handle thorny convention issues like bypassing a rule of the chair or making changes to their delegation. So how a brokered convention plays out could get incredibly complicated with the worlds eyes trying to make sense of arcane rules being adjudicated in real time on live TV.

This would actually be the cleanest scenario in terms of process and most opaque in terms oflower-case Ddemocratic values.

Under Rule 8, Section G, of the Call for the Democratic National Convention, if the presidential and/or vice presidential nominee dies, resigns, or becomes disabled after the convention, the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee shall confer with the Democratic leadership of the United States Congress and the Democratic Governors Association and shall report to the Democratic National Committee, which is authorized to fill the vacancy or vacancies.

Once the nomination is decided at the convention, though, only the nominee can choose to bail. The party cant do it. The party may have second thoughts about their nominee, but if Biden refuses to drop out, theres little to be done other than perhaps applying extraordinary pressures like cutting off the DNCs bankroll and other resources to urge him to change his mind. Once the gavel falls, Democrats are stuck with Biden if he still has a pulse.

If such a scenario unfolds before the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, the Vice President-elect would become President, according to the 20th Amendment. (This assumes those in the electoral college acted faithfullythat is, the electors voted for the winner of the election in their states, which have varying levels of stringency in enforcing this behavior.)

If that happens after Biden is inaugurated for a second term on Jan. 20, Kamala Harris would become President, and would be eligible to run for the top job in 2028 for a full four-year term.

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Can Joe Biden Be Replaced? Here's How It Could Happen - TIME

PRESIDENT JOE BIDENs performance in his televised debate with Donald Trump, on June 27th, could hardly have gone worse. With Democratic figures asking if a way can be found to replace him as the candidate for the election in November, what are the options? The main trouble is that he has comfortably secured enough delegates to win his partys nomination. That means that only one person can change who will be the Democratic candidate to face Donald Trump: Mr Biden himself.

The rules do not allow for a rerun of a popular election. To become the party nominee, a candidate needs to win a majority of delegates to the Democratic national convention. The number needed is 1,968 and Mr Biden has already gathered 3,894 because he has run virtually unopposed. No one, including delegates to the convention, can force the president to step aside. But if he were persuaded to withdraw (whether by his wife, or by a posse of Democratic grandees), these delegates would become unbound and therefore free to vote for the nominee of their choosing.

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How could Democrats replace Joe Biden as their candidate for president? - The Economist

A once politically far-fetched question can President Biden be replaced at the top of the Democratic Party presidential ticket has taken on new urgency after Mr. Bidens halting debate performance against former President Donald J. Trump.

The short answer is yes assuming Mr. Biden decides on his own to step aside. But if Mr. Biden decides not to step aside, the short answer is probably no.

Either way, the process would be complicated and would open the door to political upheaval between now and when Democratic delegates gather to vote for a nominee at their convention in August.

Mr. Biden has the power to leave the race and release all the pledged delegates he has accumulated 3,894 of 3,937 committed so far, according to a tally by The Associated Press during his march to the nomination. If he were to do so, those delegates would be free to vote for whomever they chose. That would lead to an open convention, a rarity in modern American politics.

The prospect raises many questions.

No. He could certainly endorse a successor, and that would count for something. But once the delegates are free, they are free. Loyalty to Mr. Biden, which runs deep, does not automatically extend beyond him. And there could be a floor fight over who would emerge as the nominee, highlighting already festering ideological divides in the party, and potentially weakening a future Democratic candidate heading into the fall campaign.

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Could Democrats Replace Biden at the Top of the Presidential Ticket? - The New York Times