Rep. Adam Schiff, a prominent Democrat and leading Senate candidate from California, called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race on Wednesday, citing the nation’s critical juncture following Biden’s poor debate performance last month.
“Joe Biden has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history, and his lifetime of service as a Senator, a Vice President, and now as President has made our country better,” Schiff said in a statement.
“But our nation is at a crossroads,” he added. “A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the President can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
Schiff’s statement aligns with calls from some Democrats who have suggested Biden should step aside after his disappointing debate in June.
Schiff is a significant figure in the Democratic Party, closely allied with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi had made him Intelligence Committee chairman and appointed him to lead the team of House impeachment managers during former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial. She also picked Schiff to serve on the House committee investigating Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
On Wednesday, Schiff argued that it is time for Biden to “pass the torch,” asserting that Democrats would have a better chance of defeating Trump in November if Biden steps aside.
“While the choice to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden’s alone, I believe it is time for him to pass the torch,” Schiff said. “And in doing so, secure his legacy of leadership by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election.”
Schiff committed to supporting a potential replacement for Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket if the president were to withdraw.
In a recent interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Schiff suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris could “very well win overwhelmingly” if Biden were to step aside and described her as a “phenomenal president.”
According to a source familiar with the matter, Schiff informed the Biden campaign before publicly calling for him to drop out.