Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have successfully pushed the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to delay the formal nomination vote for President Joe Biden. This decision, reported by Axios, provides additional time for party members and lawmakers to address concerns about Biden’s candidacy.

The DNC announced that the virtual roll-call vote, initially scheduled for mid-July, will now take place in the first week of August. The party’s national convention remains set for August 19-22 in Chicago. This postponement allows lawmakers, particularly those worried about Biden’s ability to challenge former President Donald Trump in November, more time to deliberate.

Biden, 81, has faced significant criticism following a troubling debate performance against Trump and inconsistent public appearances. Prominent Democrats, such as Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), influential donors, and left-leaning media outlets, have expressed doubts about Biden’s mental and physical capacity to complete another term.

Initially, Democratic officials planned to nominate Biden through a virtual vote ahead of the national convention to meet an August 7 deadline for presidential candidates in Ohio. However, with Ohio extending the deadline to September 1, the DNC reconsidered its timeline.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), co-chair of the DNC rules committee, informed Biden’s campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, about the need to delay the roll-call vote. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), who had organized Democrats to pressure the DNC for a delay, called the new timeline “a positive step,” though he acknowledged it might not fully alleviate concerns about Biden.

“This whole idea of jamming it through in mid-July crumbled under pressure, and [that is], I think, a good thing,” Huffman said. The delay aims to avoid a rushed process that could divide the party and ensure a thorough consideration of Biden’s candidacy.