House Democrats want to stop effort to nominate Biden early

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A group of House Democrats is pushing back against plans to nominate President Joe Biden early for reelection. In a letter to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), lawmakers expressed "serious concerns" about a virtual roll call vote scheduled for July 21, ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August.

The letter, which has yet to be sent, warns that an early roll call could harm party unity. "It could deeply undermine the morale and unity of Democrats."

"Some of us have called on President Biden to step aside, others have urged him to stay in the race, and still others have deep concerns about the status of the President’s campaign but have yet to take a position on what should happen," said the letter obtained by the Associated Press.

Despite calls to step down, Biden pushes on

Biden is actively campaigning in battleground states like Nevada, aiming for a second term, despite calls from Democratic leaders to call of his run. His campaign is still dealing with doubts after his performance against Donald Trump in debates.

The Associated Press reports around 20 congressional Democrats have privately discussed Biden stepping aside, although public calls for this have stopped following the recent assassination attempt on Trump.

This division from the Democratic party over Biden's ability to win reelection is causing many supporters to worry that a Biden nomination could lead to losses not only in the White House but also in Congress.

Roll call complications

Originally, the early roll call was planned to ensure Biden's spot on the Ohio ballot, which had an August 7 deadline. However, Ohio has since changed its rules, rendering the early roll call unnecessary.

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., questioned Biden during a recent call with progressive lawmakers, suggesting meetings with former Presidents Clinton and Obama, and top congressional leaders to discuss the campaign’s viability. Biden disagreed with the notion of a losing trajectory but showed a willingness to listen to other opinions.

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Huffman remains skeptical, stating, "I continue to believe a major course correction is needed."

DNC's position on virtual roll call

The DNC has not set a formal date for the virtual roll call, although its rulemaking committee is meeting soon. Virtual activities are expected to begin the week of July 22, potentially lasting multiple days.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison refuted claims of an accelerated timeline, stating, "The timeline for the virtual roll call process remains on schedule and unchanged from when the DNC made that decision in May."

Biden’s deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, emphasized the necessity of the virtual roll call to ensure ballot access, despite Ohio’s modified deadline. "It is our obligation as a campaign to make sure that President Biden is on the ballot," Fulks said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. It was reported from Los Angeles.