When asked if she would back Biden’s re-election, a Democrat representative calls for “new blood” in her party.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, demanded a “new generation” and “fresh blood” in the Democratic Party when asked about President Joe Biden’s potential re-election bid while pledging her support if he runs.
During her appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press” on Sunday, guest anchor Kristen Welker questioned the Democrat about her support for the president in the context of doubts about Biden’s 2024 intentions.
“I have been quite vocal, including with my own leadership in the House, that we need a new generation and fresh blood, period, throughout the Democratic Party, in the House, the Senate, and the White House,” Slotkin said, adding, “I believe the country has been saying the same thing.”
In recent months, suspicions have been raised about the president’s re-election ambitions, prompting her remarks. Biden has not yet formally declared his intention to run for a second term, although Al Sharpton stated last week that Biden had informed him of his intentions.
“He is the incumbent president. If he decides to run for office again, I will support him, and so will the party. This has a lengthy history in the United States,” stated Slotkin.
Biden, age 79, would be the oldest person to be re-elected president if he were to win a second term in 2024, beginning his second term at age 82. Since becoming office, concerns about Biden’s cognitive health have increased. Last month, when he was asked whether he would run again, he raised eyebrows by stating, “It remains to be seen.”
At 89 years old, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is the oldest member of Congress, while Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) is the oldest member of the House. In 1992, both women won their first election.
Slotkin noted that she was one of a tiny handful of Democrats who had not voted for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as Speaker of the House, stating, “I would love to see new leaders. I would love to see some leaders from the Midwest there, right? It was crucial to me to reflect on the middle of the country by being present. However, I believe that new blood is a wonderful thing.”
Former Missouri Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill made similar remarks last month, stating, “All of our leadership – and I say this as an old person – you know, a lot of old people are running the Democratic Party now in every element of the Democratic Party.”
A poll conducted by CBS News and released last month indicated that 73% of respondents supported age limitations for elected officials. 71% of Democrats support limitations, compared to 75% of Republicans and independents. 40% of respondents agreed that 70 years old should be the upper age restriction, whereas 18% believed that over 80 was too old, and only 2% believed that 90 years old should be the upper age limit.
For the newly created 7th District in Michigan, Slotkin is running against the incumbent Republican state senator Tom Barrett. Slotkin currently represents the eighth congressional district of Michigan.