AUSTIN, Texas — On Monday, KVUE spoke with Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) for the first time since he called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from his reelection campaign.
Rep. Doggett’s public plea on July 2 was the first of more than 30 similar calls from Democrats in Congress urging Biden to leave the race.
The longtime congressman said he did so after President Biden’s widely panned debate performance and lagging poll numbers.
On Sunday, nearly three weeks after Rep. Doggett’s initial call, President Biden announced he was ending his reelection bid.
“I knew this was a very difficult decision for the president,” said Rep. Doggett during an interview on Monday morning with KVUE. “I think that he made a very courageous decision that Donald Trump could never have made to place country over ego.”
The congressman told KVUE while he wishes more colleagues would have spoken out earlier to possibly speed up Biden’s decision, he’s hopeful Democrats have a “fighting chance” against former President and current Republican nominee Donald Trump in November.
After announcing his withdrawal, President Biden quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place, and many Democrats followed. So far, Rep. Doggett has declined to do the same.
“I have from the outset supported a fair, open process to select our nominee,” he said. “I have no doubt now that that will be Kamala Harris, and I’ll be enthusiastic for her, but I want to continue to support that concept.”
Rep. Doggett added he wants avoid the appearance of a “handoff” selection by Washington insiders.
“I believe that nominee will be Kamala Harris,” said Rep. Doggett. “We need broad support from the many people who are asking for a younger candidate, a different candidate.”
The congressman said whoever Democrats nominate will face an uphill struggle after this shakeup roughly 100 days out from Election Day.
Congressman Doggett will serve as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It runs Aug. 19-22.