President Joe Biden will not be running for reelection in 2024 despite his prior claims, a Democratic lawmaker shared on Wednesday.
This didn’t come from some lowly intern or social media. This was from Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., one of the most powerful and well-connected Democratic Party leaders in the country. Maloney is the chair of the House Oversight Committee and has been in congress for nearly 30 years.
During the high-profile Democratic primary debate in New York’s 12th congressional district on Wednesday, Maloney was asked if she believed Biden would seek a second term.
“I don’t believe he’s running for reelection,” Maloney admitted.
Her chief opponent in the primary, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., was less decisive. It’s “too early to say” and it “doesn’t serve the purpose of the Democratic Party” during this election cycle, Nadler said.
Maloney’s claim sent shockwaves through Washington, D.C., where Biden’s capacity to perform the duties of the president has been questioned openly by both Republicans and Democrats.
Appearing on CNN early Thursday, Maloney backtracked and apologized to Biden through the camera.
“Mr. President, I apologize. I want you to run. I happen to think you won’t be running, but when you run or if you run, I will be there 100 percent,” Maloney said.
“You have deserved it. You are a great president. And thank you for everything you’ve done for my state and all the states and all the cities in America. Thank you, Mr. President.”
But when pressed, Maloney said it is “my own personal belief” that Biden won’t run again. “Well, we are all entitled to have our own information and our own beliefs,” she said.
Maloney isn’t alone among Democratic Party leaders to doubt that Biden will (or should) run for reelection. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-M.N., admitted last week he doesn’t think Biden should run again.
“I have respect for Joe Biden. I think he has — despite some mistakes and some missteps, despite his age, I think he’s a man of decency, of good principle, of compassion, of empathy, and of strength,” Phillips said in a radio interview. “But to answer your question directly, which I know is quite rare, uh no, I don’t.”
The sentiment is pervasive among Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters as well, CNN reported last week.
According to the cable news company’s polling, 75 percent of Democrats now say they hope the party nominates someone else in 2024 — a sharp increase from earlier this year.
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