‘Advisory board’ of party stars asked to speak and travel on president’s behalf, in part to minimize potential for dissent

President Biden’s team is moving quickly to build a “national advisory board” stocked with Democratic governors, senators and other political stars who will travel and speak on Biden’s behalf during his expected reelection campaign, an early effort to unify party leaders and minimize the chance of dissent.

The group, which will be housed at the Democratic National Committee and formally announced this month, is among steps Biden aides are taking to prepare for the president’s likely reelection bid, which he is expected to announce in April. In joining the operation, the political leaders will be asked to travel, attend events, appear on television and perform other duties as high-level surrogates for the Democratic Party, at first, and then Biden once he launches his campaign.

Biden aides said some Democrats are still being asked to join the effort, but they have already enlisted more than20national figures. They include such influential governors as Gavin Newsom of California, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Wes Moore of Maryland, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Phil Murphy of New Jersey.

Some of the recruits represent the party’s left flank, with which Biden has had a mostly friendly but sometimes uneasy relationship, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.).

The effort comes as the president’s inner circle faces sensitive decisions on who will run the campaign, where its headquarters will be and what city will host the party’s 2024 political convention.

One of the goals of the unity effort, Biden’s aides said, is to showcase the diversity among the party’s stars. They hope to tamp down internal divisions during what could be a turbulent election, especially as many in the group are former or future presidential candidates. The aides spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not been officially announced.

Rounding out the advisory board are longtime Biden allies, including Sen Christopher A. Coons (Del.) and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (Del.), as well as Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) and Rep. Veronica Escobar (Tex.). New York Mayor Eric Adams and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are also part of the group.

Khanna emphasized the need to communicate Biden’s achievements, which polls suggest many Americans do not see.

“The president has had some of the most historic achievements in bringing back manufacturing jobs and helping the working and middle class in the last 50 years,” he said. “Our challenge is to get that message out to factory towns, to rural communities and communities of color. We need 20, 30 surrogates from the party going out there in communities, telling stories to communicate this vision.”

Biden may be especially sensitive to the need for unity given that the Democrats’ last presidential primary was a free-for-all with more than two dozen candidates, pitting some of the party’s top figures against each other. Biden took his share of criticism; in one searing debate, then-Sen. Kamala D. Harris accused him of racial insensitivity, a rift that took some time to heal.

The early unity effort is also a way to signal to various party factions that Biden is sensitive to their concerns, including young people worried about his age (he turned 80 last year).

“By pulling people into his campaign, he will show that he is going to tap the ideas, the passion, the energy of the next generation of Democratic thinkers and leaders,” Khanna said. “That gives him a sense of statesmanship, where people will say he’s the captain that can draw on all the resources and help lead our country and party.”

The White House and the DNC declined to comment on the advisory board.

Biden has yet to officially declare his reelection bid, but he has made it clear he intends to run. Asked by reporters Thursday when he will announce his candidacy, he shot back, “When I announce it.”

In a recent ABC News interview, Biden said his “intention has been from the beginning to run, but there’s too many other things we have to finish in the near term before I start a campaign.” First lady Jill Biden echoed those comments, telling the Associated Press during a trip to Kenya that her husband is “just not done.” She added, “How many times does he have to say it for you to believe it?”