The call has been sounded by Michigan Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin for “new blood” and a “new generation” throughout the Democratic Party when questioned concerning President Joe Biden’s possible re-election campaign while stating that she will offer her support if he chooses to actually run.
While making an appearance on the Sunday edition of NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Kristen Welker, the show’s guest host, questioned the Democrat rep concerning her possible support for the president when asking about Biden’s 2024 plans.
“I have been very vocal, including with my own leadership in the House, that we need a new generation and we need new blood, period, across the Democratic Party, in the House, the Senate, and the White House,” stated Slotkin, going further, “I think that the country has been saying that.”
Her statements took place just as a swirl of questions regarding the president’s re-election plans kicked off over the past few months. As of writing, Biden has not formally issued an announcement of his intent to run for a second term, despite recent claims from Al Sharpton this past week that Biden confided in him that he was going to run again.
WATCH: When asked whether she'd support Biden in 2024, @RepSlotkin (D-Mich.) brings up the need for "new blood" in the Democratic Party.
"If the sitting president decides to run, we are going to support him. … But I think we need new leaders." pic.twitter.com/ODtPkLbA7e
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 9, 2022
“He’s the sitting president. If he decides to run again, I’m going to support him, the party’s going to support him. That has a long history in our country,” stated Slotkin.
At 79 years old, Biden would hold the title of the oldest person re-elected for the position if he were to win another stint in the White House in 2024, starting the second term at the ripe old age of 82 years old. Since Biden officially took office, questions concerning the cognitive health of the president have been mounting. Just this past month he sparked serious concern about his mental health when questioned about whether he would be running again, stating that it was his intention, but that it “remains to be seen.”
The oldest person currently serving in Congress is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), at 89 years old, while the oldest for the house sits with House is Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), at 86. Both women were first elected in 1992.
Slotkin went on to state that she was just one person from a small group of Democrats that had not put their vote in for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as House Speaker, claiming, “I would love to see new leaders. I would love to see some midwestern leaders in there, right? That’s been important to me, is, reflect the middle of the country, we’re here too. But, I do think new blood is a good thing.”