Sen. Raphael Warnock sidesteps Biden campaign questions, denouncing GOP’s “big, ugly bill” as a threat to health care.

Warnock Focuses on Policy, Not Party Infighting

Senator Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., declined to directly answer whether former President Joe Biden should have dropped out of the race earlier, deflecting repeated questions during a televised interview and instead criticizing Republicans’ proposed legislation.

In an appearance with NBC’s Kristen Welker, Warnock was asked about comments from David Plouffe, a former aide to Vice President Kamala Harris, who suggested in a new book that Biden’s decision to run again was a mistake. Plouffe had argued that Biden’s withdrawal in 2023 would have allowed the Democratic Party to hold a “robust primary” and even mentioned Warnock as a potential candidate.

Rather than responding directly, Warnock stated, “Kristen, here’s what we absolutely know about last year’s election. It’s over, and I’m going to spend all of my energy focused on the task in front of us.” He warned that Republicans are advancing a “big, ugly bill” that could strip health care from up to 7 million Americans.

Democrats Unified in Deflecting Leadership Doubts

Welker pressed further, noting that Warnock hadn’t provided a clear answer. In response, the Georgia senator reiterated his focus on representing his constituents, calling the proposed bill a threat to working-class families and accusing Republicans of trying to take health care from children.

“I take very seriously my job,” he said. “This really is a critical week. This big, ugly bill is going to strip people of their health care. It’s going to rob working-class people of the resources that they need.”

Other Democratic leaders have offered similarly cautious remarks regarding Biden’s re-election campaign. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have both sidestepped the issue, preferring to emphasize future legislative battles rather than internal party debates.

“We’re looking forward. We have the largest Medicaid cut in front of us. We have the whole federal government,” Schumer told CNN, echoing similar statements he made on MSNBC and during a press conference earlier in May.

Jeffries mirrored that approach during a separate press conference, telling reporters, “We’re not looking backward, we’re looking forward at this particular moment in time.”

Still, some Democrats have acknowledged the controversy. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg admitted Biden “maybe” harmed the party’s prospects by remaining in the race too long. Nonetheless, Buttigieg defended Biden against claims of mental or physical decline.

Despite the lingering concerns, Democratic leadership continues to rally around a forward-facing agenda, particularly as Republicans push forward with their expansive legislative package, officially known as the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Warnock and others insist their attention is best spent opposing cuts that could deeply impact healthcare coverage nationwide.