By Moira Warburton
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A growing number of Democrats in Congress are publicly calling on Democratic President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid after the 81-year-old incumbent's halting debate performance against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Democrats hold 213 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and control the U.S. Senate with 51 seats, including three independents who caucus with the party.
While many lawmakers have expressed unease with Biden's continued candidacy - and others have steadfastly backed the incumbent's plans - here is a list of the 19 Democratic U.S. lawmakers who have directly called for Biden to not run again.
REPRESENTATIVE EARL BLUMENAUER
"While this is a decision for the president and the first lady, I hope they will come to the conclusion that I and others have: President Biden should not be the Democratic presidential nominee."
REPRESENTATIVE ED CASE
"I do not believe President Biden should continue his candidacy for re-election as President."
REPRESENTATIVE ANGIE CRAIG
"Given what I saw and heard from the president during last week's debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a forceful response from the president himself following that debate, I do not believe that the president can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump."
REPRESENTATIVE LLOYD DOGGETT
"President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump. I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not."
REPRESENTATIVE RAUL GRIJALVA
"If he's the candidate, I'm going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere."
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES
"The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump's promised MAGA authoritarianism. I no longer believe that is Joe Biden."
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LEVIN
"I believe the time has come for President Biden to pass the torch."
REPRESENTATIVE SETH MOULTON
"President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our Founding Father George Washington's footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump."
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT PETERS
"I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign."
REPRESENTATIVE BRITTANY PETTERSEN
"I have deep admiration and love for Joe Biden and all he has done for our country ... Please pass the torch to one of our many capable Democratic leaders so we have the best chance to defeat Donald Trump."
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE QUIGLEY
"Mister President: Your legacy is set ... Step down and let someone else do this."
REPRESENTATIVE PAT RYAN
"Joe Biden is a patriot but is no longer the best candidate to defeat Trump."
REPRESENTATIVE BRAD SCHNEIDER
"The time has come, however, for President Biden to heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership to guide us to the future he has enabled and empowered us to pursue."
REPRESENTATIVE HILLARY SCHOLTEN
"For the good of our democracy, I believe it is time for him to step aside from the presidential race and allow a new leader to step up."
REPRESENTATIVE MIKIE SHERRILL
"Because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he won't run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee."
REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SMITH
"The President's performance in the debate was alarming to watch and the American people have made it clear they no longer see him as a credible candidate to serve four more years as President."
REPRESENTATIVE ERIC SORENSEN
"I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for President."
REPRESENTATIVE GREG STANTON
"For the sake of American democracy, and to continue to make progress on our shared priorities, I believe it is time for the President to step aside as our nominee."
SENATOR PETER WELCH
"For the good of the country, I'm calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race."
Welch was the first Democratic U.S. senator to call on Biden to step aside as a candidate.