Democratic governors from across the country gathered either virtually or in person for a meeting with President Biden on Wednesday night, as reported by the White House. The meeting comes in the midst of ongoing political discussions following the president’s performance at last Thursday’s debate.
Among those present were Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky, all potential presidential candidates themselves. Also in attendance were Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Kathy Hochul of New York, JB Pritzker of Illinois, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, who organized a call with the governors earlier in the week to address concerns about Mr. Biden’s debate performance.
Fourteen governors joined the meeting remotely, including Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, and Katie Hobbs of Arizona.
In their public statements, many Democratic governors have expressed their full support for President Biden. Dan McKee of Rhode Island, for example, mentioned his intention to attend the meeting in person to show his support for the president.
Wes Moore of Maryland, who was also present at the meeting, stated to CBS News that he would not seek the nomination if Mr. Biden were to step aside. He emphasized the importance of President Biden remaining in the race.
Some governors viewed the meeting as an opportunity for an open discussion with Mr. Biden regarding his health. Andy Beshear, for instance, mentioned to CNN that they wanted to ensure the president was doing well.
Physician Josh Green of Hawaii, participating remotely, expressed interest in hearing the president’s thoughts on his capacity for a second term, given their past collaboration on various issues, including the Maui wildfire.
Dr. Green also noted the challenges faced by both President Biden and former President Trump, citing their age as a potential factor over the next four years.
Contributors to this report include Grace Ashford, Mike Baker, Katie Glueck, Jack Healy, Shawn Hubler, Ernesto Londoño, Eduardo Medina, Simon Romero, Jenna Russell, and Mitch Smith.
