NRCC Calls on Vulnerable Democrats to Pressure Biden to Negotiate with Speaker McCarthy

April 21, 2023

The National Republican Congressional Committee is calling on vulnerable House Democrats to tell President Biden to stop stonewalling by coming to the negotiating table with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).

“Voters hate Democrats who make promises in election years to do the right thing, but suddenly go mute when the country needs them to speak up. Runaway spending ballooned on Democrats’ watch and their bill has come due. House Democrats can take responsibility for their spending choices now by telling President Biden to grow up and negotiate.” – NRCC Communications Director Jack Pandol

Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans released their plan to address the nation’s runaway spending problem this week. President Biden immediately rejected the plan and has refused to negotiate. Speaker McCarthy called on President Biden to negotiate from the House floor:

“President Biden has a choice. Come to the table and stop playing partisan political games or cover his ears. Refuse to negotiate and risk bumbling his way into the first default in our nation’s history.”

In multiple reports over the last twenty-four hours, rank and file Democrats have begun to indicate nervousness and dissatisfaction with the White House’s obstinacy:

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): “It has been more than 78 days since President Biden last met with Speaker McCarthy. This signals a deficiency of leadership, and it must change.”
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI): “They’ve got to do it soon… can’t keep waiting.”
Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA): “I think more discussion or exploration about where people are, what would work, is helpful.”
Rep. Dean Phillips (MN): “I respect the White House position. But not in perpetuity. Because negotiation, that’s what this whole institution is about.”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL): “I do think that the president and the speaker should always talk.”
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI): “We’re going to have to negotiate. I’m encouraging continued negotiations.”

Recent public polling shows broad public agreement with Speaker McCarthy’s negotiating position. Yet vulnerable House Democrats have remained notably quiet, tacitly backing Biden’s bad faith negotiating posture and ignoring the spending crisis they contributed to.

It’s time to speak up.

The NRCC is closely tracking these 37 vulnerable House Democrats on the NRCC target list and will hold them accountable if they fail to stand up to President Biden:

(AK-AL) Mary Peltola

(CA-09) Josh Harder

(CA-47) Open (Porter)

(CA-49) Mike Levin

(CO-08) Yadira Caraveo

(CT-05) Jahana Hayes

(FL-09) Darren Soto

(IL-17) Eric Sorensen

(IN-01) Frank Mrvan

(KS-03) Sharice Davids

(ME-02) Jared Golden

(MI-03) Hillary Scholten

(MI-07) Open (Slotkin)

(MI-08) Dan Kildee

(MN-02) Angie Craig

(NC-01) Don Davis

(NC-13) Wiley Nickel

(NC-14) Jeff Jackson

(NH-01) Chris Pappas

(NM-02) Gabriel Vasquez

(NV-01) Dina Titus

(NV-03) Susie Lee

(NV-04) Steven Horsford

(NY-18) Pat Ryan

(OH-01) Greg Landsman

(OH-09) Marcy Kaptur

(OH-13) Emilia Sykes

(OR-04) Val Hoyle

(OR-06) Andrea Salinas

(PA-07) Susan Wild

(PA-08) Matt Cartwright

(PA-17) Chris Deluzio

(RI-02) Seth Magaziner

(TX-34) Vicente Gonzalez

(VA-07) Abigail Spanberger

(WA-03) Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

(WA-08) Kim Schrier