*Written before President Biden’s announcement to step down*

Joe Biden should be the Democratic nominee for President unless Joe Biden decides to step down.

Joe Biden being forced aside so that a different candidate can be nominated without a vote would disenfranchise voters. Here is why:

In February 2024, Michigan had its Presidential Primary vote. I told constituents in my district to vote how they deemed fit as the primary is your chance to voice your concerns for another candidate. I highlighted the accomplishments during President Biden’s first term (i.e. PACT Act, bipartisan infrastructure bill, capping insulin prices, and CHIPS Act). I made voters aware of issues I was frustrated about (i.e. foreign policy, national debt, manufacturing).

The February results were as follows:

  • Joe Biden: 625,221 (81.1%)

  • Uncommitted: 101,623 (13.2%)

  • Marianne Williamson: 22,865 (3.0%)

  • Dean Phillips: 20,684 (2.7%)

Hillary Scholten has called for President Biden to step aside and for a different candidate not voted for by the people to be the Democratic nomination. (Article Link)

I do not share Hillary’s views as this would invalidate the 625,221 Michiganders that voted for President Biden.

Hillary did not state who she would like the nominee to be, so I do not want to speculate who a replacement would be. However, Hillary is in a leadership position and should provide a sense of direction if she calls on President Biden to step down.

If President Biden steps down, this would lead to an open convention. The result is the Democratic nominee for President would be selected at the Democratic convention by the delegates and not the voters.

Furthermore, Vice President Kamala Harris would need to be on the new Democratic ticket in some capacity if Democrats want to transfer campaign contributions from President Biden’s ticket to another ticket.

We must respect our Democratic process to ensure people’s votes are heard and respected to maintain our Democracy. Hillary’s decision to call for President Biden to step down now, rather than prior to the primary, is something I strongly condemn.