Democrats in closely watched congressional races criticize Biden's 'garbage' remark

Democrats Criticize Biden’s “Garbage” Comment as Key Congressional Races Heat Up

This comment has sparked backlash within his own party, especially as the midterm elections draw near.

Among those speaking out are Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan, and Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jon Tester of Montana, and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Slotkin, who is running against Republican Mike Rogers for an open Senate seat, addressed the issue on a Michigan radio station, WWJ Newsradio, stating: “President Biden shouldn’t have said it. I think that kind of talk is exactly what our politics don’t need right now.” Slotkin emphasized the importance of civil debate, noting that Michiganders expect Democrats and Republicans to discuss issues respectfully without resorting to name-calling.

Reps. Jared Golden from Maine and Don Davis from North Carolina also took to social media to voice their concerns. Golden tweeted, “Any elected official or candidate who calls Americans or America ‘garbage’ is flat-out wrong,” adding that leaders should avoid fueling divisive partisanship. Davis echoed similar sentiments, calling for a reduction in divisive language.

Senators Baldwin, Tester, and Brown, who are all running tight races that could determine control of the Senate, also made it clear that they do not align with Biden’s remark. Baldwin, facing a challenge from entrepreneur Eric Hovde, and Tester, running against veteran Tim Sheehy, both stated through campaign representatives that they disagreed with Biden’s comment.

The backlash follows Biden’s comments during a nonprofit Zoom call, where he referenced the “floating garbage” in response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s offensive comments about Puerto Rico during Trump’s recent rally. Although Biden later clarified that he was referring specifically to hateful rhetoric rather than Trump supporters as a whole, many Republicans interpreted his words as a broader criticism.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro have also distanced themselves from Biden’s comments. Shapiro told CNN he would “never insult Pennsylvanians or any Americans based on their political choices,” while Harris expressed her disagreement with any rhetoric that criticizes people based on their vote.

As Democrats prepare for the November 5 elections, the comment has added pressure on candidates like Brown, Baldwin, Tester, Slotkin, Golden, and Davis, all running competitive campaigns in key states. With the balance of power in Congress at stake, these candidates continue to underscore their commitment to respectful discourse amidst a high-stakes political climate.