Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas responded to calls on him to step down as a presidential candidate on Friday, saying voters are telling him they “want an option other than President Joe Biden.”

Doggett appeared on CNN to discuss efforts to call for Biden to step aside from the 2024 election cycle following criticism of his performance in the June 27 presidential debate. CNN host Jim Chute asked Doggett what he's heard from voters and whether they support the possibility of putting a new Democratic candidate at the top of the shortlist. (RELATED: Joe Biden repeatedly denies reality in primetime ABC interview)

“Yesterday, on the Fourth of July, we all went out to meet our voters, and I hope my colleagues across the country did the same. I can't tell you how many people sought me out at parades in their neighborhoods to support what I was saying and tell me it's really important that there is an alternative. They want Trump out. They are afraid of what he will do to destroy our democracy. But they are worried that President Biden is not the top candidate we can support,” Doggett said.

The CNN host continued to press Doggett about who he would pick as the new Democratic presidential nominee.

“Well, in my opinion, now is not the time to nominate another candidate. I don't know tonight who's best, but I think we have some strong governors. It's a strong lineup. I'm sure the vice president will be involved, there will be cabinet members, maybe a couple senators involved. What we need is a fair and open Democratic process,” Doggett said.

“I think Jim Clyburn once hinted at the possibility of a national or local primary, just for a short period of time, to let the American people who say they don't like either option that both parties are offering know that there's a new generation, a new candidate who can appeal to them, and we'll have a winner in the fall, and both the Democratic House and Senate will support a new president, and we can put a lid on this Trump nonsense.”

Doggett was the first Democrat to publicly voice concerns about Biden running for a second term. Biden's performance in the debate with former President Donald Trump was criticized for a number of gaffes, including when the president couldn't finish his sentence. Doggett said in a statement on Tuesday that Biden “failed to defend his own achievements and expose many of Mr. Trump's lies.”

While Biden's associates and surrogates have supported his decision to continue campaigning, other Democrats have been mentioned as possible successors, including Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.