U.S. Rep. Scholten calls for Biden to step aside ‘for the good of our democracy’

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten at the U.S. Capitol. | Photo courtesy of Scholten's office

While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer continues her effort to shore up support for President Joe Biden to remain as the party’s nominee this November, another elected Michigan official has called for Biden to reconsider.

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) on Thursday morning posted to social media a statement saying “for the good of our democracy, I believe it is time for him to step aside from the presidential race and allow a new leader to step up.”

Scholten, who is now the first Democrat in Michigan’s congressional delegation to publicly say Biden should step aside, added that she would respect Biden’s decision to remain in the race, and would still vote for him, “as a clear and necessary alternative to Donald Trump,” but felt it was “essential that we have the strongest possible candidate leading the top of the ticket- not just to win, but to govern.”

Her defection to the growing camp of Democrats openly calling for someone else at the top of the presidential ticket, is another repudiation of Biden’s attempt on Monday to quell discontent in the party following his poor debate performance June 27 against former President Donald Trump.

In a letter Monday to congressional Democrats, the 81-year-old Biden called for unity and reiterated he was the best person to defeat Trump in November.

“The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now,” Biden wrote. “And it’s time for it to end. We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump.”

Scholten’s announcement follows that on Tuesday of state Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-East Grand Rapids), who said that he believes Biden is not up to the task.

“Reluctantly, but after much deliberation, the time has come for me to speak from the heart. I’ve reached the conclusion that the time has come for President Biden to be that bridge to a new generation of Democratic leaders and pass them the torch so we can defeat Donald Trump,” Skaggs wrote.

However, other Michigan Democrats have firmly backed Biden.

“(I) support him and I feel good about him in our Senate races,” said U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) on Wednesday, while U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) posted to social media on Monday that she woke up “more motivated than ever to re-elect the Biden Harris ticket. I trust our President and know he is the one to finish the job.”

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