Governor Evers is the only Democratic Governor not joining the post-debate meeting with President Biden

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - The White House is hosting an emergency meeting with Democratic Governors from across the country and President Biden on Wednesday. There is widespread speculation the President is trying to reassure his Democratic supporters of his viability after last week’s poor debate showing, but Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is not joining the meeting.

Now, some are wondering if history will repeat itself.

In the announcement that shocked the nation, then-incumbent President Lyndon B Johnson shared the infamous words, “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.”

On March 31, 1968, just months before the election, Johnson stepped out of the race.

University of Wisconsin Whitewater Professor Emeritus Richard Haven said a withdrawal now would be much more complicated than Johnson’s was.

“It doesn’t give the other possible candidates a lot of time to establish their candidacy, to raise money, to really prepare for an election,” Haven said.

At the meeting, 22 of the 23 country’s governors were in attendance. Evers was the governor not in attendance at Wednesday’s closed-door meeting.

“One way that Biden can save his candidacy is to quickly shore up his support from key elected officials in the Democratic Party,” Anthony Chargosky, a University of Wisconsin La Crosse Professor said. “Governors are very important elected officials within the party.”

In addition to Biden making his case to his supporters, Haven speculates it will also be a pivotal point for the governors.

“I think they’re really trying to make a decision,” Haven said. “Do they continue to support him?”

Despite multiple requests for comment, Evers’ office did not provide an explanation as to why the governor will not be in attendance.

“I can only conclude that he did not feel he needed to do that to make a decision about whether or not he is supporting the president,” Haven said. “I believe he is for re-election.”

Evers will be with Biden at his campaign stop in Madison on Friday. Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, however, will not.

“If Tammy Baldwin and Tony Evers start to distance themselves from President Biden, then that is a very, very bad sign for the president,” Chargosky said. “He needs the support of the top Democrats in such a crucial state.”

Update: After this story was published, a spokeswoman for Gov. Evers released the statement on X:

“@GovEvers didn’t attend the meeting because he’s focused on moving forward and winning Wisconsin. He supports President Biden - his comments in support of the president over the last week speak for themselves, and he looks forward to campaigning with the President on Friday.”

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