A growing number of Democrats in Congress are publicly calling on Democratic President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid after the 81-year-old incumbent’s halting debate performance against Republican rival Donald Trump.

While many lawmakers have expressed unease with Biden’s continued candidacy – and others have steadfastly backed the incumbent’s plans – here is a list of those who have directly called for Biden to not run again.

SENATOR PETER WELCH

“For the good of the country, I’m calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race,” the senator from Vermont wrote in an opinion piece in the Washington Post. Welch was the first Democratic U.S. senator to call on Biden to step aside as a candidate.

REPRESENTATIVE ERIC SORENSEN

“It is more important than ever that our neighbors have a candidate for President who will communicate a positive vision for every person in this country,” Sorensen, who represents a district in Illinois, said in a statement posted on X.

“I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for President.”

REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT PETERS

“I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course. My conscience requires me to speak up and put loyalty to the country and to democracy ahead of my great affection for, and loyalty to, the President and those around him,” Peters, who represents a district in California, said in a statement cited by several media outlets.

Peters’ office did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES

“The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump’s promised MAGA authoritarianism. I no longer believe that is Joe Biden,” Himes, who represents a district in Connecticut, wrote in a statement posted on X.

REPRESENTATIVE GREG STANTON

“For the sake of American democracy, and to continue to make progress on our shared priorities, I believe it is time for the President to step aside as our nominee,” Stanton, who represents a district in the key state of Arizona, said in a statement.

REPRESENTATIVE ED CASE

“My guidepost is what is the best way forward for our country. I do not believe President Biden should continue his candidacy for re-election as President,” Case, of Hawaii, said in a statement.

REPRESENTATIVE BRAD SCHNEIDER

“I love President Biden. I am forever grateful for his leadership and service to our nation. The time has come, however, for President Biden to heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership to guide us to the future he has enabled and empowered us to pursue,” Schneider, of Illinois, said in a statement.

REPRESENTATIVE HILLARY SCHOLTEN

“For the good of our democracy, I believe it is time for him to step aside from the presidential race and allow a new leader to step up,” Scholten, of Michigan, said on social media. “It is essential that we have the strongest possible candidate leading the top of the ticket — not just to win, but to govern.”

REPRESENTATIVE EARL BLUMENAUER

“The question before the country is whether the president should continue his candidacy for re-election. This is not just about extending his presidency but protecting democracy,” Blumenauer, who represents a district in Oregon, said in a statement.

“While this is a decision for the president and the first lady, I hope they will come to the conclusion that I and others have: President Biden should not be the Democratic presidential nominee.”

REPRESENTATIVE PAT RYAN

“Joe Biden is a patriot but is no longer the best candidate to defeat Trump,” New York’s Ryan, who was first elected in a special election in 2022 before winning the seat in the general election months later, said in a social media post.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKIE SHERRILL

“Because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he won’t run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee,” Sherrill, of New Jersey, said in a statement.

REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SMITH

“President Biden should end his candidacy for a second term as President and release his delegates to the Democratic National Convention to enable the party to nominate a new candidate for President,” Smith, of Washington state, said in a statement.

“The President’s performance in the debate was alarming to watch and the American people have made it clear they no longer see him as a credible candidate to serve four more years as President,” he added.

REPRESENTATIVE ANGIE CRAIG

Craig, whose district in Minnesota is considered a top priority for Republicans to win back in November, was the first incumbent from a highly competitive district to call for Biden to step down.

“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,” Craig said.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE QUIGLEY

A moderate from Illinois, Quigley said Biden must step aside and “let someone else do this” or risk “utter catastrophe.”

REPRESENTATIVE SETH MOULTON

Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, praised Biden’s service to the country but told a local radio show that the president should follow in “George Washington’s footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump.”

REPRESENTATIVE RAUL GRIJALVA

Grijalva, a liberal who represents a district in southern Arizona along the border with Mexico, told the New York Times it was time for Biden to end his campaign, saying, “If he’s the candidate, I’m going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere.”

Grijalva’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

REPRESENTATIVE LLOYD DOGGETT

Doggett, a House member from a safe Democratic district in Texas, was the first congressional Democrat to call for Biden to step down.

“President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump,” Doggett said in a statement. “I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not.”

(Reuters)