California Democrat Adam Schiff calls on Biden to drop out of presidential race

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) is calling on President Joe Biden to end his reelection campaign, becoming the most high-profile California Democrat to do so.

In a written statement Wednesday, Schiff called Biden “one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history” but said it was “time for him to pass the torch.”

“Our nation is at a crossroads,” Schiff said. “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, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat that was long held by the late Dianne Feinstein, is the latest elected Democrat in California to call for Biden to withdraw. His close ally and mentor, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, last week raised questions about whether Biden should stay in but stopped short of calling for him to drop out.

According to an AP poll released Wednesday, 65% of Democrats nationwide think Biden should drop out.

Schiff said the decision is up to the president alone but said withdrawing would help Biden “secure his legacy of leadership by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election.”

Still, Schiff said he will work to elect whomever Democrats nominate next month.

“But make no mistake, whoever our party ends up nominating, or if the nomination remains with the president, I will do everything I can to help them succeed. There is only one singular goal: defeating Donald Trump. The stakes are just too high,” Schiff said.

This is a breaking story, and it will be updated.