Mayor Gordo Releases Full Text of His Statement Calling on Biden to Bow Out of Presidential Race

One day after Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo was quoted by POLITICO as calling on President Biden to step down from the 2024 Presidential race, the Mayor sent local media a copy of his full statement, in which he also described Biden as a hero.

“Safeguarding the core pillars of our democracy — and what makes America, America — is literally what’s at stake in the 2024 presidential contest, and that’s why it is with a heavy heart that today I call on President Biden to consider all this and to end his 2024 re-election campaign,” Gordo said.

 “It’s clear that the American people want another candidate at the top of the Democratic ticket. President Biden has been a hero, defeating Trump in 2020 and then delivering historic investments and bipartisan legislation that have helped strengthen America. But now, the American people want, and need, real change. I hope the President will meet this moment and heed this call.”

Although there have been calls for Biden to step down since his performance in the June debate against Donald Trump, the call to step aside has grown louder in the past few days as party heavyweights have joined the chorus.

On Wednesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena) called on Biden to step aside. Party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Hakeem Jeffries have also called on Biden to step aside.

According to media reports, Biden is now more open to calls to step down. 

Neither Gordo nor other Democrats have said who they would want to replace Biden.

Vice President Kamala Harris would not automatically become the nominee if Biden removed himself from the race. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom has also been mentioned as a replacement in the race.

The time to replace Biden is growing short. The Democratic Convention is scheduled to take place in August.