President Biden's visit to Austin on Monday comes amid continued Democratic uncertainty

When embattled President Joe Biden visits Austin on Monday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the library of the president who signed the landmark legislation into law, the head of the Texas Democratic Party and at least two senior area congressmen in the president's party will not be part of the event.

State Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said Friday that he has a scheduling conflict and will be unable to attend the midday event at the LBJ Presidential Library at the University of Texas. The absence is notable because Biden will arrive in Austin — his first visit since becoming president — as calls are growing within the party for him to step aside as a candidate for reelection after his unsteady performance June 27 in a debate with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

In an interview with the American-Statesman, Hinojosa did not expressly join those calls, but he didn't offer his full-throated support for Biden to remain as the 2024 Democratic standard-bearer.

"If he makes a decision to stay, then so be it. We have to make the best of that," Hinojosa said. "And we need to do everything possible to make sure that that does not affect our down-ballot races in Texas, some critical down-ballot races that are going to be affecting the future of Texas."

Asked directly if Biden should be the party's nominee, Hinojosa replied, "I want to make sure that the person that has the best chance of beating Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket."

The president's visit to Texas, a reliably Republican state, is being billed by the White House as an official visit, meaning it's not part of his reelection effort. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, a former Democratic state senator, plans to greet Biden when Air Force One touches down at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and will be on hand at the LBJ Library, his office said.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, who this month became the first prominent Democrat to call for Biden to stand down, will not be at the event. An aide said Doggett had made another commitment before going public with his concerns about Biden's ability to defeat Trump and before the president's Austin visit was announced.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, also has a scheduling conflict, his office said. Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Casar of Austin plans to attend the event, his office said.

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State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, the head of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, plans to be there, his office said, as do several other Democratic state House members.

Also on Friday, five Democratic former members of Congress from Texas sent a letter to Biden asking him to gracefully exit the race. The single-page letter, copied to the Democratic congressional leadership, praises the 81-year-old president for his long career in public service, and says, "The entire nation is eternally indebted to you.

"(W)e believe that it is time for you to encourage a new generation of leaders to step forward to unite and lead the nation at this critical time. Therefore, we believe that you should withdraw from the presidential race and allow a new nominee to be considered," says the letter from former U.S. Reps. Michael Andrews, John Bryant (now a member of the Texas House), Chet Edwards, Charlie Gonzalez and Max Sandlin.

But at his news conference Thursday evening, carried live by the major networks and cable news outlets, Biden vowed to remain in the race, saying he is the best Democrat to take on Trump after defeating him four years ago. The president insisted he is up to the job, though some Democrats have since joined in calling for him to bow out.

"If I slow down and can't get the job done, that's a sign I shouldn't be doing it," Biden told reporters Thursday, adding that it's important that he try to "allay fears" among voters. "But there's no indication of that yet. None."

Biden's plan to visit the LBJ Presidential Library to commemorate Lyndon Johnson's July 2, 1964, signing of the historic act that outlawed Jim Crow-style segregation, was announced last week. The legislation was forcefully pushed by the Democratic president with help from enough congressional Republicans to overcome the objections of segregationist Southern Democrats.

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In his final public appearance Dec. 12, 1972, just weeks before his death Jan. 22, Johnson expressed hope that the law would bring about lasting racial equality in the United States.

"Let us close the springs of racial poison," Johnson said in his remarks at the library that bears his name. "Let us pray for wise and understanding hearts. Let us lay aside irrelevant differences and make our nation whole."

A decade ago, then-President Barack Obama and former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter attended the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library to commemorate the Civil Rights Act’s 50th anniversary.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Democratic uncertainty will greet President Joe Biden in Austin