In an unexpected twist, a group of Democratic governors have added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing debate over President Joe Biden’s future in the 2024 election. By gathering in Washington to meet with Biden and publicly pledge their support, these governors have inadvertently undermined the efforts of many congressional Democrats who have grown increasingly disillusioned with the president and are quietly hoping for a change in leadership.
As Biden’s approval ratings continue to falter and national polls show that a significant portion of Americans believe he is too old to run for a second term, many Democrats on Capitol Hill are privately urging for the president to step aside. These lawmakers, who are facing tough re-election battles in competitive districts, fear that Biden’s candidacy will drag them down and jeopardize their chances in November. In fact, many House Democrats are already seeing Biden’s unpopularity negatively impact their own campaigns, with internal polls showing a widening gap between Biden’s performance and their own.
But when a group of influential governors—some of whom have long-term political ambitions—emerged from the White House after their meeting with Biden, offering public displays of loyalty and support, they effectively complicated matters for their colleagues in Congress. For these governors, many of whom are not up for re-election this year, the calculus is different. While they may privately harbor doubts about Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump, their political futures depend on Biden remaining in the race, particularly as some of them set their sights on the 2028 presidential race.
Their endorsement of Biden may be strategic, as they are keen to avoid a potential presidential showdown with Vice President Kamala Harris in 2028. If Biden were to step aside, Harris would likely ascend to the top of the ticket, making it difficult for any ambitious governor to challenge her in a future election. Consequently, these governors are inclined to protect Biden’s candidacy, even if they privately harbor reservations about his chances in the general election.
Yet this support has not gone unnoticed by congressional Democrats, who are growing increasingly frustrated with the governor’s displays of loyalty. With vulnerable House and Senate races at stake, many lawmakers are becoming more vocal in their private desire for Biden to step aside and allow for a more viable challenger. Some lawmakers have even discussed the possibility of replacing Biden with a more electable candidate, like Harris, in hopes of minimizing the electoral damage that a Biden-led ticket might cause.
This divide between Capitol Hill and the statehouses is not a new phenomenon. As the 2024 election cycle intensifies, the political motivations of governors and congressional lawmakers are increasingly at odds. For governors, the priority is often long-term ambition, while for congressional Democrats, survival in the upcoming election is paramount. The outcome of this power struggle will ultimately shape the Democratic Party’s chances in 2024 and beyond.
In the meantime, the governors’ show of support for Biden may have provided a temporary boost to the embattled president. But the political dynamics within the Democratic Party are shifting rapidly, and as polling numbers continue to worsen, more lawmakers may be forced to take a stand. The question remains: Will Biden recognize the mounting pressure from his own party, or will the divide between party leaders continue to deepen, leaving him to navigate a fraught and fractured 2024 election cycle? Only time will tell.
