Democratic governors rally behind Biden's reelection bid despite debate performance

Several Democratic governors remained supportive of President Joe Biden's reelection bid as of Monday, even as their names are whispered as possible replacements after the president's debate performance last week.

Democratic insiders were left shaken last week, after the president gave a rocky performance in the first presidential debate. Some leaders are reportedly scrambling to find a replacement candidate for Biden that has a chance of beating former President Donald Trump in November, but the White House has maintained that Biden will remain in the race.

Kentucky's Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was the most recent governor to stand by the president, stating on Monday that he would continue supporting Biden as long as he was in the race. 

“The debate performance was rough. It was a very bad night for the president, but he is still the candidate," Beshear told reporters, according to CBS News-affiliated outlet WLKY. "Only he can make decisions about his future candidacy. So as long as he continues to be in the race, I support him."

Beshear, who is considered a rising star in Democratic politics, said he was flattered that he was considered a potential replacement but attributed his popularity to the bipartisan success in Kentucky.

Govs. Gavin Newsom from California, and Kathy Hochul from New York, were two of the president's fastest supporters. Newsom is considered one of the top choices to replace Biden if there's an open floor vote at the Democratic convention.

"We've got to have the back of this president," Newsom told MSNBC on Thursday. "You don't turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that? ... Democrats deliver. This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment."

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is also at the top of the list of possible replacements, said she was still supportive of Biden but reportedly told a top Biden official that the president's performance would make it harder for him to win her state this November, according to Politico. 

Whitmer later clarified that she does believe Biden will still win her state.

“I am proud to support Joe Biden as our nominee and I am behind him 100 percent in the fight to defeat Donald Trump," Whitmer told the outlet. "Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, I know he can because he’s got the receipts.”

Other Democratic leaders, including former President Barack Obama, have also remained loyal to Biden but admitted the debate was not a good night.

"Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself," Obama wrote in a post on X. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.