Mass. delegates divided over whether Biden should stay in the race

Amid unprecedented questions in the Democratic party, Massachusetts delegates to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) are divided on whether President Joe Biden should be their nominee. 

A new survey of Massachusetts delegates found that 62 percent of the delegates think Biden should stay in the race. Fifteen percent said they think he should drop out, another 15 percent were unsure, and nine percent didn’t want to say. 

The survey, conducted by The MassINC Polling Group for CommonWealth Beacon, polled respondents about their thoughts on other potential candidates if Biden were to drop out. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they would support Vice President Kamala Harris if she were to become the nominee.

CommonWealth Beacon notes the survey results are not “representative of the delegation, but they are illustrative of what’s on their minds.”

Why does this matter?

The Democratic party is at a massive crossroads less than a month before their national convention in Chicago. An ABC News poll revealed that 86 percent of Americans think Biden, the presumptive nominee, is too old to serve another four years as president. 

After a shaky performance at a debate last month and other less-than-spectacular public engagements (including referring to Harris as “Vice President Trump” in a recent press conference), Biden has seen more than two dozen high ranking Democratic officials calling on him to step out of the race. 

This poll serves as a microcosm for what Massachusetts delegates specifically are thinking. It shows the stark divides within the Democratic party, even in a state as blue as Massachusetts.

Governor Maura Healey said earlier this month that Biden should “listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump.” Three members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation have come out with statements either concerned with Biden’s ability to win, or flat-out calling for him to step off the ticket.

What is a convention delegate?

What is a delegate, anyway? Delegates are people chosen by their political parties. They carry the support and votes from their home state to the national convention. While they are usually very politically active within their party, they are tied to the candidate that won their state’s primary. How many are sent to the convention varies from state to state.

Massachusetts will send 116 delegates and a few alternates to the convention. Notable delegates include Mayor Michelle Wu, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. 

Congressional Representative Jake Auchincloss is also a delegate. When asked his thoughts on Biden stepping down, he said “We have strong people, not just the top of the ticket, but around the ticket, who can be strong surrogates.”