These Illinois congressional Democrats are demanding Biden withdraw
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Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., leaves the U.S. Capitol after the last votes of the week on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Four Illinois Democrats in Congress have publicly called for President Biden to step aside as the party's presumptive nominee, which is the most of any state so far.
The big picture: The Illinois lawmakers join over a dozen other Democrats in Congress making the same request of Biden over concerns about his ability to take on former President Trump.
Why it matters: Biden has firmly resisted calls to step aside, but lawmakers have told Axios they expect the drumbeat to continue amid a barrage of fears from constituents and donors.
Here are the Illinois Democratic members of Congress who have called for Biden to end his 2024 presidential campaign:
Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill)
- Vice chair at large of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Garcia was part of the representatives' joint letter on July 19.
- "We believe the most responsible and patriotic thing you can do in this moment is to step aside," they wrote.
Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.)
Casten wrote an opinion piece in the Chicago Tribune calling for Biden to "pass the torch."
- "If the upcoming election is a referendum on past performance, future promises and character, I have every confidence Biden would win," Casten wrote.
- "But politics, like life, isn't fair. I believe that Biden is not only going to lose but is also uniquely incapable of shifting that conversation."
- Casten has held his seat in 6th District since 2016. The 6th represents many of the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.
Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.)
- Sorensen said in a statement on July 11: "In 2020, Joe Biden ran for President with the purpose of putting country over party. Today, I am asking him to do that again ... I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for President."
- Sorensen was elected to his district in Northwest Illinois in 2022, prevailing over his Republican opponent by just 4 percentage points.
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.)
- Schneider said in a statement on July 11: "We are faced with a stark choice: be resigned to slog through this election praying we can successfully defend our democracy, or enthusiastically embrace a vibrant vision for our future."
- "I love President Biden," he said, but "the time has come ... for President Biden to heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership."
- First elected to his district in the Chicago suburbs in 2012 for one term and again in 2016, Schneider is the vice chair of the center-left New Democrat Coalition.
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.)
- Quigley said in an MSNBC interview on July 5 that Biden's "legacy is set" and that "we owe you the greatest debt of gratitude."
- "The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this," he added.
- A senior Appropriations Committee member and former member of the House Intelligence Committee, Quigley was first elected to his Chicago-based seat in 2008.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.