Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has joined calls for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
Biden's support among Democrats has dipped since his disastrous presidential debate with President Donald Trump last month.
Meanwhile, support for Trump, who narrowly avoided assassination over the weekend, is rising.
On Wednesday, Schiff called on Biden to end his re-election bid so Democrats can field another candidate against Trump.
In a statement, Schiff said:
“A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundations of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
Schiff was selected as one of the “top two” winners of the Senate primary in California.
The winner of the Senate race will fill the seat of Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA).
Schiff will take on the Republican nominee Steve Garvey in november
Garvey is a former professional baseball player.
Non-partisan political disability Cook Political Report claims the race is considered “solidly Democratic,” giving Schiff an advantage over his opponent.
The House Democrat praised Biden's accomplishments while in office, stating:
“Joe Biden has been one of the most important presidents in our nation's history, and his lifetime of service as a senator, vice president and now president has made our country better.”
“But our nation is at a crossroads,” the congressman warned.
Schiff noted that it is Biden's choice whether or not to withdraw from the race.
However, he added: “I think it's time for him to pass the torch.”
Schiff also suggested that Biden would “secure his leadership legacy by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the next election” if he follows the advice to drop out of the race.
“But make no mistake, whoever our party ends up nominating, or whether the nomination ends up with the president, I will do everything I can to help them succeed,” Schiff said.
“There is only one singular goal: to defeat Donald Trump.
“The stakes are too high.”
Schiff's announcement made him the 20th Democrat in Congress to urge Biden to drop out of the race.
He's also the most prominent House Democrat to do so.
Others in Congress who have called on Biden to drop out of the 2024 election include Democratic representatives:
- Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
- Ed Case from Hawaii
- Angie Craig from Minnesota
- Lloyd Doggett of Texas
- Raul Grijalva from Arizona
- Jim Himes of Connecticut
- Mike Levin from California
- Seth Moulton of Massachusetts
- Scott Peters from California
- Brittany Pettersen from Colorado
- Mike Quigley of Illinois
- Pat Ryan from New York
- Brad Schneider of Illinois
- Hillary Scholten of Michigan
- Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey
- Adam Smith of Washington
- Eric Sorensen of Illinois
- Greg Stanton of Arizona
Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) has also called on Biden to drop out.
Schiff's statement calling on Biden to drop out of the race comes a day after a report that he told donors privately, “I think if he's our candidate, I think we're going to lose,” referring to the president.
In an appearance earlier this month on NBC News, Schiff publicly expressed doubts about Biden, remarking:
“I think the performance on the debate stage rightly raised questions among the American people about whether the president has the stamina to defeat Donald Trump.”
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