Congressional Black Caucus member breaks with colleagues, airs Biden concerns

Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) is urging vulnerable Democrats to break with President Biden if they need in order to win reelection. 

In an interview with CNN, Veasey said vulnerable Democrats need to “do whatever it is they need to do” to win reelection, even if that means distancing themselves from Biden. 

“My concerns are the concerns that everybody has,” Veasey said. “What I said this morning and expressed to my colleagues, particularly from members on the front line, is that I think they need to do whatever it is they need to do in order to come back and be reelected and so if they need to, you know, distance themselves, then that's what they need to do.”

Seven House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to suspend his reelection campaign after a poor debate performance against former President Trump last month. 

Veasey is the first member of the Congressional Black Caucus to show slipping support for the president among a critical demographic. 

The majority of the caucus has remained ardent supporters of the president thus far. 

The group met virtually with Biden on Monday at the invitation of Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), chair of the caucus. 

Senior leaders of the caucus, from Horsford to former chair Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), have repeatedly declared their support for Biden and Vice President Harris. 

The support from CBC members is crucial if Biden hopes to win Black voter support in November. The coalition was critical in sending him to the White House in 2020. 

This year, both he and former President Trump hope to build support among Black voters.