Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., on Wednesday became the latest in a string of Democrats to publicly call for President Joe Biden to step aside from the top of the Democratic ticket.

What You Need To Know

  • California Rep. Adam Schiff is the latest Democrat urging President Joe Biden to step aside from the Democratic ticket

  • He did, however, signal that he would stand by Biden if he does not step aside

  • Schiff is running against Republican Steve Garvey, a former Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate

  • At least 20 House Democrats and one sitting Democratic U.S. Senator have called on Biden to step aside after his debate against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump 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. But our nation is at a crossroads. 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," said Schiff in a statement shared with Spectrum News

“While the choice to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden’s alone, I believe it is time for him to pass the torch," he continued. "And in doing so, secure his legacy of leadership by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election."

He did, however, signal that he would stand by Biden if he does not step aside: "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.”

Spectrum News has reached out to Biden's reelection campaign for comment.

Schiff, a prominent House Democrat running for U.S. Senate, joined the growing chorus of voices urging the incumbent president to step aside from the ticket.

At least 20 House Democrats and one sitting Democratic U.S. Senator have called on Biden to step aside after his debate against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump last month.

A poll released Wednesday conducted by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that seven in 10 U.S. adults — including 65% of Democrats — say President Joe Biden should suspend his reelection campaign and allow the party to nominate a different candidate.

Schiff is running against Republican Steve Garvey, a former Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The seat is currently held by Sen. Laphonza Butler, who was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy left by Feinstein's death; she determined early on that she would not run for a full term.

Earlier this month, during an appearance on NBC’s "Meet the Press," Schiff seemed to hedge his bets with Biden, while simultaneously backing Vice President Kamala Harris should she rise to the top of the ticket.

“Ultimately, this is a decision President Biden is going to have to make, and President Biden alone. But I would say this – he has been an extraordinary president,” Schiff told moderator Kristen Welker, but added that he thought the president’s performance on the debate stage “rightfully raised questions among the American people about whether the President has the vigor to defeat Donald Trump.”

“This is an existential race, given Joe Biden's incredible record, given Donald Trump's terrible record, he should be mopping the floor with Donald Trump. Joe Biden is running against a criminal. It should not be even close. And there's only one reason it is close, and that's the President's age,” he reasoned.

Schiff said he would advise Biden to seek out the opinions of people “with some distance and objectivity” to make his “best informed judgment.”

“If the judgment is run, then run hard and beat that SOB,” said Schiff.

“I think the Vice President would be a phenomenal president. I think she has the experience, the judgment, the leadership ability to be an extraordinary president,” continued Schiff when Welker asked if Harris had the ability to beat Trump in November. “I think she very well could win overwhelmingly, but before we get into a decision about who else it should be, the President needs to make a decision whether it's him.”

Schiff was the lead impeachment manager in the first impeachment trial of Trump, and served on the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, making him a prime target of retaliation from Trump and his supporters.

In an interview with Spectrum News in May, Schiff voiced concerns about what could happen if Trump were to be reelected.

“I do fear that if he were ever to become president, all of us are going to have to be spending a lot of time just defending our democracy, our institutions, protecting the Justice Department from being weaponized against his opponents, protecting civil servants from being essentially drummed out of their jobs and in favor of political hacks. We're going to have to be doing some very basic defense of our democracy.”