WASHINGTON — A group of House Democrats is actively advocating to delay the Democratic National Committee's swift nomination of Joe Biden as the party's presidential nominee before the August convention, citing concerns that it could prematurely suppress ongoing debates about Biden's candidacy.

More than 20 Democrats have endorsed a draft letter obtained by NBC News, urging the DNC to halt plans for a "virtual roll call" that would formally nominate Biden. Initially intended to address challenges related to Ohio's ballot deadlines, recent legislative changes have extended the deadline beyond the convention dates.

Leading the effort is Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who has voiced criticisms of Biden without formally calling for him to step aside, according to sources familiar with the letter. Reps. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who have publicly suggested Biden consider stepping aside, have also signed on. Additionally, Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) expressed private concerns that Biden's candidacy might impact her re-election prospects.

"This should not be a rushed decision at this point," Smith emphasized in an NBC News interview, criticizing the DNC's plan as an unprecedented move that accelerates the nomination process by nearly a month.

The lawmakers highlighted in their letter the diversity of opinions within the party regarding Biden's candidacy, ranging from calls for him to withdraw to concerns about the status of his campaign. They emphasized the importance of maintaining open debate and avoiding actions that could be seen as shutting down discussions or prematurely resolving the nomination.

"Whether or not President Biden remains our nominee, Democratic unity and enthusiasm will be crucial until November 5th," the letter stated. "We respectfully but emphatically request that you cancel any plans for an accelerated 'virtual roll call' and refrain from extraordinary procedures that could limit legitimate debate."

In response to these concerns, Biden himself asserted his determination to continue as the nominee, pointing to the 14 million primary votes he garnered as a mandate from Democratic voters.

"Look, 14 million people voted for me to be the nominee in the Democratic Party, OK? I listen to them," Biden affirmed in an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt on Monday.

Despite earlier calls from nearly 20 congressional Democrats for Biden to withdraw from the race following an attempt on former President Donald Trump's life, efforts to influence Biden's nomination have persisted. The letter, coming just days after the incident, underscores ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party regarding Biden's candidacy.

DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison, a staunch Biden supporter, refuted claims that the timeline for the virtual roll call was accelerated to benefit Biden politically.

"The suggestion of an accelerated timeline for the virtual roll call is false. The DNC's decision on the timeline remains unchanged since May," Harrison stated. "We look forward to nominating Joe Biden through a virtual roll call and celebrating with enthusiasm in Chicago alongside the vast majority of delegates supporting the Biden-Harris ticket."

Quentin Fulks, principal deputy campaign manager for Biden-Harris, defended the DNC's decision to proceed with the virtual roll call, citing Republican attempts in Ohio to manipulate ballot access rules as necessitating swift action.

"Ohio Republicans attempted rule changes. It is our campaign's duty to ensure President Biden and Donald Trump appear on the ballot," Fulks emphasized on Tuesday.

As the DNC maintains its course toward a virtual nomination process, the debate within the Democratic Party over Biden's candidacy continues to unfold against a backdrop of strategic maneuvering and differing perspectives on the path forward.