Former Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan is calling for Vice President Kamala Harris to replace President Biden on the Democratic ticket, warning that the stakes are too high for the president to continue his candidacy.
Ryan, who launched his own short-lived Democratic presidential bid in the 2020 primary, was the first presidential candidate to endorse Biden in the recent election.
But in an op-ed published in Newsweek on Tuesday, the former congressman wrote that the Democratic nominee in 2024 should be Harris.
“Joe Biden’s debate performance was deeply troubling. But this isn’t just about a 90-minute debate and a terrible performance,” Ryan wrote. “This election must be about generational change, something I’ve been screaming about for over a year.”
Former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan calls on Democrats to put Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket
Ryan left Congress after losing the 2022 Ohio Senate race to Republican JD Vance.
While some elected Democrats have been sounding the alarm about the looming election behind closed doors, Ryan is one of the few elected Democrats so far to speak publicly about the need for change following the president’s poor debate performance.
Ryan addressed Newsweek on how Biden “promised” to be a bridge president to the next generation.
“I liked that idea. I imagined him defeating former President Donald Trump, stabilizing the country and passing the torch to the next generation,” she wrote.
“Sadly, that bridge collapsed last week. It was heartbreaking to witness Joe Biden’s struggle. And we must forge a new path forward,” he continued.
Vice President Kamala Harris said Biden had a slow start to the debate but a strong finish
Ryan argued that the current vice president is the best choice to replace Biden and praised her performances in television appearances after the debate.
“Those who questioned her ability over the past few years were rebuked by a polished, confident leader who communicated clearly in the midst of a political meltdown of epic proportions. I loved watching it. Our vice president was masterful,” he wrote.
Ryan also argued that Harris can energize the electorate and govern effectively.
He said she is up to the job and would be more compelling in carrying the Democratic message than Biden, especially on abortion rights, and said having her at the top of the ticket could help Democratic congressional candidates in key districts.
At the same time, Ryan dismissed concerns that his candidacy would pose a greater risk than Biden’s against Trump.
An average of polls between Trump and Harris shows the former president leading the vice president by more than six points, but there have been no recent polls on the potential matchup.
Vice President Harris takes the stage at a rally in Nevada on June 28, one day after the presidential debate.
Harris has been vigorously defending her boss since the debate.
The vice president appeared on television almost immediately after the debate, where she admitted that Biden had a “slow” start to the debate but argued that he had a strong finish.
Harris has repeatedly defended her leadership and argued that she is fighting on behalf of the American people.
He also campaigned in Nevada for a rally following the president’s shaky performance, where he warned against giving Trump a second term.
While Ryan called for a new generation of leadership and for Harris to head the ticket, he praised Biden’s work during his first term.
The former congressman said Biden is the ‘‘The most pro-union, pro-industry president of my lifetime.’