NJ Rep. Sherrill wants Biden to end presidential bid in 'best interests of democracy'
North Jersey Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill has joined the small but growing number of Democratic leaders calling for President Joe Biden to end his reelection campaign after his widely panned debate performance last month.
“I know that President Biden and his team have been true public servants and have put the country and the best interests of democracy first and foremost in their considerations," Sherrill wrote in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. "And 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, D-Montclair, who flipped her suburban district from red to blue in 2018, became the seventh congressional Democrat to call on Biden to drop out of the presidential race. She's the first elected Democrat from New Jersey to do so.
Stile: NJ Democrats are itchy about Joe Biden's future as their nominee. Here's why
The 11th District Congresswoman, a rumored candidate for governor next year, has been a strong supporter of the president. As recently as Monday, she issued a statement sidestepping the issue of Biden's future and instead said her focus was on "beating Donald Trump and taking back the House, which is more urgent than ever considering recent Supreme Court decisions."
But after House Democratic Caucus members met Tuesday on Capitol Hill, the third-term congresswoman said she'd decided it was best for another candidate to take on Trump. Her district covers most of Morris County as well as parts of Essex and Passaic.
Sherrill: Stakes are 'too high' to stay silent
“I have heard from people in my district who are united in their concern for our country and our future," she wrote. "They want a leader who can continue to build on our successes but is also able to turn the nation’s attention to the urgent threat that Trump presents to our democracy, to our freedoms, and to our country.
"When I think of my four children and all of the rights that another Trump presidency endangers, and in light of the recent Supreme Court decision that gave inordinate power to the president of the United States, the stakes are too high – and the threat is too real – to stay silent."
While praising Biden's accomplishments, she added: "I realize this is hard, but we have done hard things in pursuit of democracy since the founding of this nation. It is time to do so again."
Biden said Monday that he has no plans to leave the race and picked up support from the Congressional Black Caucus and key progressive Democrats in recent days.
Andy Kim, Malinowski weigh in on on Biden
While Sherrill is so far the only Democratic member of New Jersey's congressional delegation to explicitly call for Biden to step aside, others have expressed misgivings.
U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, the party's nominee for U.S. Senate this fall, said in an interview with the New Jersey Globe on Tuesday that he had "concerns" about Biden's ability to remain at the top of the ticket. Kim, a Democrat from Burlington County, said he is "still thinking this through" but signaled that he was open to discussions on replacing Biden.
Former New Jersey Rep. Tom Malinowski made it clear Sunday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he felt it was time for Biden to leave the race.
"I'm still proud to have been the first NJ member of Congress to endorse Joe Biden in 2020," he wrote. "He's been a uniquely successful president. Today, he can go down in history as the man who saved America from Trump twice - first by running four years ago, then by passing the torch."
Staff Writer Charles Stile contributed to this article.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com
Twitter/X: @wwesthoven
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Mikie Sherrill of NJ calls on Joe Biden to end presidential bid
