What California Democrats want from Joe Biden

Presented by Coalition to Protect Access to Healthcare: Your afternoon must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State

Jul 09, 2024 View in browser   By Lara Korte, Mia McCarthy and Blake Jones Presented by Coalition to Protect Access to Healthcare Reps. Pete Aguilar and Nancy Pelosi are among the congressional Californians speaking out today about Joe Biden. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo IT’S COMPLICATED: Democrats in California’s congressional delegation say President Joe Biden will most likely remain on the ticket — but some aren’t quite ready to completely commit to him. At least, not without seeing him loosen up, take the mic more often and maybe even go unscripted. While Democrats challenging Republican-held seats in Orange County and the Central Valley seek to tune out the consternation roiling the party, in Washington, current members spent today having spirited debates behind closed doors about whether their caucuses should support Biden as the Democratic nominee. Few so far have openly called for the president to step aside, with several California Dems indicating or outright saying they want to see more proof that he’s up for the job. After House Democrats held what some described as a “sad” caucus venting session today, the group’s chair, Rep. Pete Aguilar, told reporters the primary goal this year is keeping Donald Trump out of office. But when asked if Biden is doing enough to assuage Democrats’ concerns about his mental acuity, the San Bernardino Democrat replied: “We’ll see.” “Let's see the press conference, let's see the campaign stops, let's see all of this — because all of it is going to be necessary,” Aguilar added, referencing a solo presser Biden is set to give during a NATO summit on Thursday. “The president knows that he did not have a good debate performance. He knows that he has to be out there in people's districts, out in the communities, out in these tough states.” Aguilar’s messaging tracks with that of other Democrats who, while being careful to voice support for the president, are also suggesting Biden needs to do more to persuade voters who have doubts about his age following his disastrous debate with Trump. Biden, who has spoken openly about having a stutter, often uses teleprompters during public speeches and has given little in the way of off-the-cuff remarks in the weeks since the debate. Sen. Alex Padilla has voiced his unequivocal support for Biden. But in an interview with NBC over the weekend, he also offered some advice: “Let’s get Joe out there at public events, at homes, being a little bit more unscripted.” Even former Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to be holding out for more. After telling a reporter that she is committed to Biden, Pelosi this afternoon declined to say whether she thinks he’s the best person for the ticket. “I’m not making any statement right now here in the hall,” she told The Hill’s Mychael Schnell. “When I’m ready to make a statement I will.” Conversations during the Senate Democratic Caucus’ weekly lunch today were also reportedly inconclusive, even if Majority Leader Chuck Schumer repeatedly reiterated “I’m with Joe” following the meeting. Still, California Sen. Laphonza Butler told CNN this morning that despite some members’ unease, she believes the president is a responsible patriot who has taken all their points into consideration. “The American people are expecting us to continue to do the work, deliver, and to put forward candidates that are going to deliver on what their will is — issues like abortion and education and housing,” she said. Rep. Ro Khanna, speaking to the Washington Post after the caucus meeting, said there are still legitimate concerns about Biden’s abilities, but he thinks speculation about a potential replacement is ultimately futile. “I believe that Joe Biden is going to be our nominee. I think the rest of it is sort of a West Wing episode,” Khanna said. “It makes for great entertainment, but isn’t going to come to pass.” IT’S TUESDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lkorte@politico.com. A message from Coalition to Protect Access to Healthcare: Care for fifteen million vulnerable children, seniors, disabled and low-income families on Medi-Cal is significantly underfunded. That's why an unprecedented coalition of nearly 200 groups is united in saying YES on Prop 35 to protect our health care. Prop 35 will provide dedicated resources to improve patient care without raising taxes on individuals - protecting and expanding access to care for all Californians. Get the Facts on Prop 35.   WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY Vice President Kamala Harris defended her own record over the last four years as well as the president’s at a Las Vegas campaign event today. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images ON THE STUMP — Vice President and native Californian Kamala Harris, whom many consider the frontrunner to replace Biden should he step aside, acknowledged at a Las Vegas campaign event today that “the past few days have been a reminder that running for president of the United States is never easy.” And she took the chance to hone her skills as messenger for the Democratic Party on abortion, warning that Trump would sign a national ban on the procedure if given the chance. “We are not going to let that happen, because we trust women,” she said. Harris defended her own record over the last four years as well as the president’s, while implicitly deflecting speculation that Biden could bow out. “When Congress passes a law that restores the reproductive freedoms of Roe, our President Joe Biden will sign it,” she insisted.   Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more.     ON THE BEATS IRAN ACCUSATIONS — Pro-Palestinian protests that have swept from New York college campuses to California interstates enjoyed covert support from Iran, according to an unusually direct statement today from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. “In recent weeks, Iranian government actors have sought to opportunistically take advantage of ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza, using a playbook we’ve seen other actors use over the years,” Haines wrote. “We have observed actors tied to Iran’s government posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests, and even providing financial support to protesters.” That does not, Haines said, mean Americans protesting the war in Gaza have done so in bad faith, but “it is also important to warn of foreign actors who seek to exploit our debate for their own purposes.” Demonstrators in California have taken over college campus buildings, blocked freeway traffic and attempted to drown out proceedings at the state Capitol as recently as last week. Many activists have identified themselves to reporters as grassroots organizers. But social media accounts based in Iran — a staunch critic of Israel — have attempted to amplify discord in the United States to serve the country’s foreign policy goals, Haines said. BALLOT WARS — With Democrats splintered on whether Biden should drop out of the 2024 race, the Heritage Foundation — the same conservative think tank behind Project 2025 — is cooking up a legal playbook to challenge any potential new nominee off the ballot nationwide. The foundation created a new master spreadsheet with an analysis of state ballot laws across the country, including in California. If Biden is pulled from the Democratic ticket, the Heritage Foundation would “absolutely” work to keep his replacement off the November ballot in states where the group has legal standing to do so, Mike Howell, executive director for Heritage’s oversight arm, told Playbook. The only problem? The foundation’s analysis of California’s election laws doesn’t appear to be accurate (as is the case for multiple other states, according to The Hill). While the Heritage Foundation in its spreadsheet writes that California law does not allow for candidate withdrawal (except by death) after a primary election, a state elections code provision added this January allows political parties until Aug. 22 to submit nominees for president and vice president. When asked about the discrepancy, Howell claimed the ballot access laws for primary candidates remain “open to legal challenges” on their applicability to presidential candidates. — Tyler Katzenberger   A message from Coalition to Protect Access to Healthcare:   What We're Reading — What a doughnut in New Hampshire says about Gavin Newsom’s presidential aspirations. (The New York Times) — Two former business partners at the center of an FBI probe involving Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao traded accusations of threats and violence. (San Francisco Chronicle) AROUND THE STATE — The California Coastal Commission is on board with a plan to create nearly 200 spots for homeless people in a parking lot near the San Diego airport. (San Diego Union-Tribune) — Speaking of: Here are six myths about homelessness in California, debunked with data. (CalMatters) — An arson fire at UC Berkeley yesterday caused minimal damage to a cafe. It’s the fifth arson incident on campus since June. (The Mercury News) — San Diego plans to spend $100 million over the next decade to draft a strategy for repairing aging and vulnerable dams. (San Diego Union-Tribune) — compiled by Tyler Katzenberger   A message from Coalition to Protect Access to Healthcare: California’s health care system is in crisis. Hospitals are closing, emergency rooms are overcrowded, and care for fifteen million vulnerable Californians on Medi-Cal is significantly underfunded. That's why an unprecedented coalition of physicians, clinics, community hospitals, Planned Parenthood, and many more all urge: YES on Prop 35, the Protect Our Health Care Initiative. Prop 35 will address California's most urgent health care priorities by securing dedicated, ongoing funding to improve patient care and expand access to community health clinics, emergency rooms, specialty care providers and physicians offices. If passed, this initiative would extend an existing levee on health insurance companies - without raising taxes on individuals - and dedicate these funds to protect and expand patient access to care. Join us in saying YES on Prop 35 to protect our health care for all Californians. YES on 35 to Protect Our Health Care     Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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