Ohio Rep. Greg Landsman: 'Time for President Biden to step aside'
U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman joined a growing chorus of Democratic politicians Friday when he called on President Joe Biden to drop his bid for reelection.
Landsman, a Cincinnati Democrat, praised Biden for beating his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, in 2020 and said he has served the country well during the past four years as president. But he said he no longer believes Biden is the right candidate to carry on that legacy.
"It is time for President Biden to step aside and allow us to nominate a new leader who can reliably and consistently make the case against Donald Trump and make the case for the future of America," Landsman said.
Landsman joined more than two dozen of his fellow Democratic House members and a handful of senators in calling for Biden to leave the race. Pressure on the president has been growing since a disastrous debate performance against Trump last month, which was followed by a series of other stumbles in interviews and press conferences.
Biden, 81, has resisted calls to step down for weeks, vowing to stay in the race. But the drumbeat against his candidacy is growing louder. Leading Democrats worry he can't convince voters he's up to the job for another four years and that polls show him losing support in crucial swing states.
Democrats like Landsman, who represents Ohio's 1st Congressional District, fear a big loss by Biden in November could hurt their chances to win in hotly contested areas. In 2022, Landsman beat Republican incumbent Steve Chabot 53% to 47% in one of the state's closest congressional races.
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In a statement Friday, Landsman made his case for replacing Biden on the ticket. He credited the president with pushing legislation that helped working people and put the nation on the right course after four chaotic years under Trump.
"I respect Joe Biden. He saved democracy in 2020," Landsman said. "He cares deeply about our country."
But he said the threat posed by Trump, which Landsman said includes the potential rise of "fascism and authoritarianism" in the United States, is too great to risk on Biden's troubled candidacy.
"While Trump's ego would never have allowed him to step aside and do what's right for the country, I have faith that President Biden will put our country first," Landsman said. "There is too much on the line, and we have to be able to make the case to the American people about the change we need and the country we all deserve."
Landsman's announcement comes about a week after he hinted he was concerned about Biden's candidacy and was considering calling on him to get out of the race. It also comes days after the Republican National Convention, during which Trump formally named Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who lives in Landsman's congressional district, as his running mate.
Landsman is an outspoken critic of Trump, arguing he is unfit for office after two impeachments and a conviction on dozens of felony charges related to hush money payments to a porn star. "Most Americans are ready to move on from the politics of grievance, and they have deep and legitimate concerns that Mr. Trump will upend our democracy," Landsman said.
His statement Friday suggested the focus on Biden's age in recent weeks makes it difficult for the president to make the best case against Trump.