WASHINGTON — Local U.S. Democratic representatives Sean Casten and Chuy Garcia joined other members of Congress Friday by calling on President Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee.

Casten (IL-06) wrote an op-ed Friday morning in the Chicago Tribune saying that the president needs to “pass the torch.”

“It breaks my heart to say it, but Biden is no longer up for that job,” Casten ended the op-ed after comparing the records of Biden and Trump.

“At the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln said that he never doubted the Union would prevail because “there was always just enough virtue in the republic to save it; sometimes none to spare but still enough to meet the emergency.” I have every confidence that informed voters who understand the stakes of this election will prove Lincoln to be right once again. But we need a messenger at the top of the ticket who can make that case,” a portion of it reads.

Also on Thursday, U.S. Rep Chuy Garcia (IL-04) released a joint statement with other Democratic reps Jared Huffman (CA-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Mark Pocan (WI-02).

“Mr. President, with great admiration for you personally, sincere respect for your decades of public service and patriotic leadership, and deep appreciation for everything we have accomplished together during your presidency, it is now time for you to pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic leaders. We must defeat Donald Trump to save our democracy, protect our alliances and the rules-based international order, and continue building on the strong foundation you have established over the past four years.

At this point, however, we must face the reality that widespread public concerns about your age and fitness are jeopardizing what should be a winning campaign. These perceptions may not be fair, but they have hardened in the aftermath of last month’s debate and are now unlikely to change. We believe the most responsible and patriotic thing you can do in this moment is to step aside as our nominee while continuing to lead our party from the White House. Democrats have a deep and talented bench of younger leaders, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, who you have lifted up, empowered, and prepared for this moment. Passing the torch would fundamentally change the trajectory of the campaign. It would reinvigorate the race and infuse Democrats with enthusiasm and momentum heading into our convention next month. Mr. President, you have always put our country and our values first. We call on you to do it once again, so that we can come together and save the country we love,” the full statement reads.

Garcia and Casten join other local reps Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Brad Schneider (IL-10) in calls for the president to step aside.

Mark Heinrich (D-New Mexico) became the third U.S. Senator Friday to call on Biden to quit the race.

President Biden is isolating in Delaware after contracting COVID-19 earlier this week.