Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez aka AOC (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) have spoken out against recent rumors suggesting President Biden might drop out of the 2024 race. Both lawmakers are calling for more transparency within the Democratic Party.
In a live Instagram video, Ocasio-Cortez addressed what she called media “craziness” surrounding Biden’s potential withdrawal. She criticized fellow Democrats for giving anonymous quotes to the press.
“If you have an opinion, say it with your chest and say it in public,” AOC stated. “The idea that you are an elected official and you are supposed to be responsible for a community and you’re just going to, like, text some journalist on the low and say ‘this is what I think, but don’t put my name next to it’ — what are you here to do?”
AOC warned that changing candidates this late could cause serious problems. She pointed out that there could be legal challenges if a new Democratic candidate emerges at this point in the race. Such as the Supreme Court deciding the outcome of the election.
“I think people need to understand the reality and the gravity of what these people are proposing,” she said.
Rep. Omar shared similar concerns on social media. She wrote on X (formerly Twitter),
“I can’t tell you all how shameful it feels to hear all these leaks about what Democratic leaders are staying [sic] and not to have a single one of them out here confirming or denying it.”
Both representatives stressed that switching candidates now could also cause the party to miss important state ballot deadlines. AOC described this scenario as potentially leading to “enormous peril” for the Democrats.
These comments come after several news outlets reported that some Democratic leaders have privately urged Biden to consider stepping aside. These reports cite concerns about Biden’s age and polling numbers as reasons for considering other candidates.
However, AOC suggested that much of this push is coming from powerful individuals outside of Congress, rather than reflecting what most Democratic voters want.
As the 2024 election approaches, these statements from AOC and Omar highlight the need for unity within the Democratic Party. They’re calling on their colleagues to voice concerns openly and work together, rather than relying on anonymous leaks to the press.
The coming days may be crucial for the Democrats as they try to present a united front while addressing internal debates about their presidential candidate. How the party handles these discussions could significantly impact their strategy for the upcoming election.