Progressive Caucus chair 'listening carefully' to members amid concerns over Biden

Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said she is “listening carefully” to members’ concerns about President Biden amid growing calls for him to drop out of the presidential race.

In a lengthy statement, Jayapal acknowledged that some Democrats are holding discussions on the “best path forward” in the wake of his rocky debate performance last month. While a handful of Democrats have publicly called on the president to exit the race, Biden has maintained he will not drop out.

“It is true that Democrats are having many conversations among our members and our constituents as we consider the best path forward to protect our democrats,” Jayapal said in her statement.

“As CPC Chair, I am listening carefully to the thoughts of our members from all over the country—in swing and safe states and districts—as we work to ensure we defeat Donald Trump and win the House and Senate,” she added.

A recent poll, conducted by Our Revolution, found 70 percent of progressive voters said Biden should suspend his campaign following the June 27 debate.

While acknowledging divisions within the party over Biden's path forward, Jayapal called out members of the media and said they should be pressing Republicans on why they are “still supporting a convicted felon who incited an insurrection and wants to be a Dictator on Day 1.”

“Republicans should be calling for Donald Trump to step down as a candidate for President,” she said. “The press should be covering for the American people the dozens of lies he told at the debate and the horrific statements he continues to make about immigrants and women."

She reiterated that Biden and Vice President Harris “were elected by the voters and have had remarkable accomplishments” throughout their administration. She then said she would continue to work to show the differences between Democrats and Trump.

“I will continue to keep my focus on conveying that proactive agenda and the contrast between Democrats and Donald Trump—who has already stripped freedoms from us on abortion and will continue to do more even as he demonizes and scapegoats immigrants and destroys wages and labor protections for working people while giving giant tax breaks and favors to his big corporate CEO cronies,” she said.

Jayapal's comments come as lawmakers return to Washington following the Fourth of July recess and as Biden pushes back on calls to step aside in the presidential race.