Governors Hinder Congressional Democrats' Attempts to Sideline Biden

Democratic governors seem to have given a decisive message to their party's congressional members - fend for yourselves.

While this may be a slight exaggeration, it's not far off from the sentiments expressed on Wednesday night by a group of the nation's governors.

These governors descended on Washington to meet President Joe Biden, expressing their public support for the embattled president in unwavering terms. However, their actions have thrown a wrench into the congressional Democrats' efforts to nudge him off the ticket.

Concerns over running alongside a critically damaged candidate are driving Democratic lawmakers to silently, but firmly, veer away from Biden this week.

Many congressional Democrats believe reclaiming the House and maintaining their Senate majority is an unlikely prospect under the leadership of a president who, according to recent polls, is perceived by a significant majority as too old for duty.

The governors' act of attending the White House meeting, alongside their public endorsements, serves only to bolster a presidential candidate whom many lawmakers view as doomed — and potentially leading to their own downfall. Many House Democrats are currently outperforming Biden in internal surveys, but there is a growing fear that his declining popularity could cause considerable damage to their respective campaigns.

The governors' support is seen by some on Capitol Hill as an act of personal politics. A significant number of these governors are mulling over presidential runs in 2028, a bid that could prove redundant if current Vice President Kamala Harris ascends to the role of President and seeks re-election.

One Democratic congressman texted, “Sink Kamala so she’s not the nominee in both ’24 and ’28,” upon hearing news about the governors rallying behind Biden.

Not all governors are politically driven, and it's doubtful any of them wish to see Trump back in the White House. Still, many of them harbor doubts about Biden's ability to prevent this.

A prime example includes one governor, who, after a West Wing meeting, began doubting Biden's ability to halt his declining popularity due to his complacency about the state of recent polls.

Additionally, two governors, Janet Mills from Maine and Michelle Lujan Grisham from New Mexico, conveyed their explicit concerns to Biden about their states' future under his administration.

It's fair to note that congressional members facing imminent elections harbor different feelings than the governors with a more extended political timeline.

It's clear that the governors wanting to pursue the presidency in 2028 know that Harris will likely be the Democratic nominee if Biden steps down. In this eventuality, how could they surpass her in 2028, when she would likely be campaigning to complete the job she started under challenging circumstances?

In comparison, the governors' presidential ambitions appear more feasible if Harris's future is linked to a potential Biden loss this year, leaving her politically crippled by 2028.

On the other hand, for the congressional Democrats who are currently vulnerable, Harris appears as a possibly superior alternative to Biden, which is enticing enough at this point.

A smaller loss margin to Trump could be the decider for as many as a dozen House seats and preventing further Senate seat losses. Therefore, it's a question of individual survival.

Despite all this, the Democrats in Congress haven't exactly behaved heroically. The stark contrast between their public support and private critiques of Biden is reaching a level not dissimilar to the Republican Party during Trump's presidency. Rumor has it the majority want the President to bow out, although they're conflicting their feelings with actions.

This could change soon if Biden remains resolute on his position. A Congressional House Democrat spilled, "Poling will get a little worse and people are going to lose their minds even more."

For now, Biden gains temporary relief from the supportive governors, although that might not have been their original intention. They avoided giving direct criticism to the President or the press. However, behind the scenes, the story is different.

As one Democratic governor confided after the White House session, "Trust me, the governors I know are not supportive and want a change."