HOUSTON — A Texas lawmaker is among the first to publicly call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the race for re-election. KHOU 11’s Len Cannon talked to Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds on Friday.
Reynolds said he's concerned after watching the president's performance during Thursday night's debate.
“I know it's not popular,” he said. “It may be unconventional. It may be a little painful, but I’d rather have this short-term confusion and a battle at the (Democratic) convention than a long term of four more years of failed President (Donald) Trump.”
Is Vice President Kamala Harris a better option?
“In my opinion, absolutely,” he said. “She's a stronger option, yes.”
You can watch Cannon's full interview with Reynolds in the video window below.
Another Houston lawmaker, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, supports Biden staying in the race.
“Joe, this is your presidency to win; we will watch Trump lose. We will not let him with this battle,” she posted to X Friday night.
You can read her full threaded post on X here.
Meanwhile, at a rally in Chesapeake on Friday, Trump talked to supporters, claiming victory in the debate.
“As you saw on television last night, we had a big victory against a man that really is looking to destroy our country,” Trump said. “He's the worst. He's the most corrupt, the most incompetent president in the history of our country."
RELATED: A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but stirs Democratic anxiety about his candidacy
Biden also reacted to his performance at the debate, saying, “I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth."