Former Rep. Tim Ryan comes out against Biden, says Harris should take his place

Former Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, called on Democrats to replace President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris on the party's November ticket in order to beat former President Donald Trump.

Ryan is a centrist Democrat, We The People Action Fund president and former Biden ally. He was elected to the U.S. House in 2002 and served 20 years. In 2020, he endorsed Biden in the presidential race after his own unsuccessful bid for the White House.

"I was the first Presidential candidate to endorse Joe Biden in 2020. I love America. I love our Party. I love Joe Biden," Ryan wrote in a Newsweek opinion column published Monday. "The Democratic Nominee in 2024 should be Kamala Harris."

In 2022, he lost a senate race to Republican J.D. Vance, thought to be at the top of Trump's vice-presidential shortlist this year. Following Biden's scrutinized debate performance Thursday, Ryan argued it is time for Democrats to unite around Harris.

"America is craving this generational change. You can feel it in the air," Ryan wrote. "It's time for the Democratic Party to let go of the past and give the American people what they want. And they want to be excited about America again. They want to come together. They want to heal. And they want to be asked to help usher in a future of renewal and reform."

He made the case that Harris' position at the top of the ticket could energize suburban voters, younger voters, and voters of color. He said she would carry a "much more" convincing message than Biden, especially around abortion, an issue known to drive voter engagement, adding, "She would boldly tell Donald Trump that his hands have been on enough women's bodies without their consent."

Despite calls from donors, strategists, and newspaper editorial boards to step aside, Biden told supporters at a North Carolina rally Friday that he is committed to staying in the race.

"I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to," Biden said Friday. " I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up."

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Congressman Tim Ryan says Kamala Harris should replace Biden