FILE: President Joe Biden stands with Tina Kotek, the Oregon Democratic nominee for governor, in 2022. Kotek is among Democratic governors meeting with Biden on Wednesday.
Carolyn Kaster / AP
Gov. Tina Kotek was among Democratic governors from across the country slated to attend a meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday, in the wake of a poor debate performance that has created questions about his reelection viability.
A spokesperson for Kotek confirmed the governor would participate in a meeting with Biden alongside more than 20 other state executives.
“She is intending to participate,” said Thomas Wheatley, a spokesman for Kotek’s campaign and political activities rather than her official duties. “She will be participating virtually.”
According to the New York Times, a number of governors with higher national profiles than Kotek planned to attend Wednesday’s event at the White House in person, including Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee planned to attend the meeting remotely, his office told news outlets.
The meeting comes as some Democrats are publicly questioning whether Biden should drop out of this year’s presidential race, after a debate performance last week in which he repeatedly fumbled his words. Biden has been under a public microscope this year over questions about his advancing age.
The president has offered no outward suggestion he would consider dropping his reelection bid, and no Democratic governor has called on him to do so.
Several of those attending Wednesday’s meeting have been vocal that they support Biden staying in the race.
Kotek, for her part, has not commented on the matter. In a visit to Portland two years ago, Biden stumped for Kotek as she ran for governor.
