WASHINGTON — A longtime Texas Democrat has become the first sitting member of Congress to call on President Joe Biden to end his re-election campaign. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said he made his decision “reluctantly” and “sadly” after watching Biden’s debate with former President Donald Trump.

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, told Spectrum News he felt President Joe Biden could not effectively defend his accomplishments or expose former President Donald Trump’s falsehoods during last week’s debate

  • Doggett, who is 77 and has served in the U.S. House since 1995, acknowledged that he has more flexibility than other members to speak his mind and suggested that other Democrats feel the same way

  • Meanwhile, several Democrats in Congress have stepped forward showing their commitment to the president and said he has the record to show he can do the job

“We’ve been running behind, hoping that we get some momentum out of this debate. Instead, we got disappointment,” Doggett told Spectrum News. “We were alarmed at the inability to counter the Trump lies and to really defend an admirable effort that the president’s made these last few years.”  

Doggett acknowledged he has more flexibility than other members to speak his mind. He is 77 and has served in the U.S. House since 1995, and is one of the most senior members of the Texas delegation. Doggett is also in a safe congressional district anchored in the Texas capital city.

Brian Smith, a professor of political science at St. Edward’s University, called Doggett a progressive and an ideologically consistent member of the Democratic Party.  

“He’s not somebody who’s trying to make waves or try to even take the office. This is somebody who’s established and very safe, so he’s not going after Biden to try to boost his own political ambitions. No, he’s looking out for that Democratic Party,” Smith said. 

Doggett also suggested there are other Democrats in Congress who feel the same way about Biden’s viability.

“I do hope that more of my colleagues will at least voice their views privately to the White House, because I think the President gets a little insulated, any president does,” Doggett said. 

When asked what he says to those who believe Biden is the only Democrat who can beat Trump, Doggett pointed to the Senate Democrats in battleground states who are polling ahead of Biden. 

“I admire the accomplishments of President Biden, but obviously not enough other Americans do,” Doggett said. “We have a convicted criminal, a convicted felon, on the ballot who’s been engaged in so much misconduct, and yet he continues to run slightly ahead of the president.” 

Doggett added that he was also concerned about the effects of Biden’s performance on down-ballot races and across the country. 

“I will be doing all that I can to both help my colleagues and the challengers that can make this a Democratic House. I think we still can succeed in doing that, and if that’s the decision that’s made, I’ll be there trying to help,” Doggett said.

Biden and his team show no signs of backing down. The White House press secretary said on Tuesday that Biden’s debate performance was just an off night and that he knows how to do the job and his record proves it.

“As long as it’s people like Lloyd Doggett saying drop out, then he’s going to say, ‘I still have my key base of support.’ But if the people closest to him start calling for the president to drop out, then that’s going to be very serious for the Democrats,” Smith said. 

Several Democrats in Congress, including some from Texas, have stepped forward showing their commitment to the president. 

Rep. Al Green, D-Austin, called Doggett a sincere person and said that he has great respect for him. But Green said he was going to support the president who “gave us the right to have infrastructure across the country, who helps us with Social Security and Medicaid, who will protect a woman’s right to choose and everyone’s right to marry whomever they choose. I’m siding with ole President Biden.”

Green added that he feels like Trump is trying to roll the country back. 

“I am confident that siding with Biden is the right thing to do, because he is the right person for this job. He has demonstrated that he can do the job. He will do the job in the future, and I will be with him until he says otherwise,” Green told Spectrum News. “If we have Biden in office, we can move forward. If not, we will move backwards.”

In a statement to Spectrum News, Rep. Vicente Gonzales, D-McAllen, said, “We must let the process run its course but I’m confident in Democrats because at the end of the day, the Republicans have put a downright liar and indicted criminal as their candidate. Let’s not forget Trump’s lies at the debate. It is Republicans, not Democrats, who are trying to cut Medicare benefits. Democrats are the ones who capped the cost of insulin and are lowering medical bills for hard-working families. Democrats are the ones who put up a bill that would increase judges and border agents to strengthen our Southern Border. Donald Trump is an obstructionist, and the American people will see who provides real results.”

Another Texas Democrat, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, said in a statement, “President Biden has delivered for our country and has a record of meaningful accomplishments from his presidency and his lifetime of public service. President Trump has a record of undermining our democracy and our freedoms. The 2024 election presents a choice between two very different visions for our future: President Biden’s vision that moves America forward for all the American people, or President Trump’s vision of that reverses our progress, denies our freedom, and divides our country. It’s clear which candidate is best for America and Americans.”

Doggett said he had reached out White House and he let House Democratic leadership know of his intention to speak out.