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Posted: 2024-07-03T20:54:33Z | Updated: 2024-07-03T20:54:33Z

WASHINGTON So far, Reps. Lloyd Doggett (Texas) and Ral Grijalva (Ariz.) are the only Democrats in Congress who have called on Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.

But several others are making it clear this week that theyre panicking about Bidens prospects, after his terrible debate performance against Donald Trump last week.

If President Biden and his team, if hes staying in this race, then its going to be incumbent on them to show us to show us, not tell us to show us that hes up for the task of beating Donald Trump, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) said Wednesday on SiriusXMs Mornings with Zerlina.

Asked if Democrats should go with Vice President Kamala Harris, Lee called her an obvious choice if Biden drops out.

HuffPost talked to more than a dozen current and former Democratic lawmakers and top aides on Wednesday to get a sense of how theyre feeling about Biden staying in the race. The consensus was that nobody is feeling very good, but nobody is sure what should happen now.

Dozens of Democratic House members were reportedly circulating a draft letter on Wednesday calling for Biden to drop out. Plenty of others are staying mum for now, waiting for Biden to make his own decision. Some are privately irritated by colleagues suggesting the party abruptly change course four months before the election.

We need to focus on beating Trump. It is crazy to consider the massively difficult, chaotic process to replace him. That would guarantee defeat, said one veteran House Democrat, who requested anonymity to speak freely. Numbers havent changed much. We need to circle the wagons, not crash them.

Asked why some Democratic lawmakers are publicly airing their concerns about Biden, this longtime lawmaker brushed it off.

Trying to be relevant, said this House Democrat. I mean, who cares what Lloyd Doggett thinks?

But Grijalva, the onetime chair of the high-profile House Progressive Caucus, joined Doggett on Wednesday, telling the New York Times that he would support Biden if he remains the nominee but it would be better if he got out of the race.

If hes the candidate, Im going to support him, Grijalva said, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere.