Illinois Reps. Schneider, Sorensen call for Biden to step down: ‘Time to pass the torch’
CHICAGO - Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Il., on Thursday joined a growing list of Democratic lawmakers publicly calling for President Biden to drop out of the presidential race and his debate performance late last month reignited doubts about his ability to serve as commander-in-chief.
Additionally, Rep. Eric Sorensen echoed Schneider and called for Biden to step aside in the presidential race.
In a statement, Schneider praised Biden for his accomplishments while in office but said the time had come for the president to "heroically pass the torch to a new generation of leadership to guide us to the future he has enabled and empowered us to pursue."
Schneider invoked George Washington who, despite encouragement from his supporters, declined to run for a third term "for the good of the nation and the people."
Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., walks up the House steps for the final votes of the week on Thursday, April 4, 2019. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call / Getty Images)
"He knew when it was time to pass the torch," Schneider said. "In passing the torch now, President Biden has a chance to live up to this standard and seal his place in history as one of the greatest leaders our nation, and history, has ever known. He can lead the transition of power to a new generation that can build a stronger party and a stronger nation. I fear if he fails to make the right choice, our democracy will hang in the balance."
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Schneider is the 11th Democratic House lawmaker who has publicly called for Biden to step down.
Sorensen's statement, posted to "X" at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, said this in part:
"President Joe Biden is a good man who has spent the bulk of his life in service to our country. His work has been devoted to growing the middle class and building opportunity for all people. In 2020, Joe Biden ran for President with the purpose of putting country over party. Today, I am asking him to do that again… I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for President."
You can read his full statement here.