U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, called on Joe Biden to exit the presidential race, becoming the first member of Connecticut’s congressional delegation to publicly say he no longer has confidence in the president’s ability to win reelection.

Himes’ statement on X Thursday night that Biden should “step away” came moments after the president held an hour-long press conference after the NATO summit and as Democrats continued to express public and private concerns about his fitness for office.

The congressman whose Fourth District covers most of Fairfield County and some of New Haven County reportedly expressed private reservations about Biden’s candidacy on a Sunday call with other high-ranking Democrats. For the past few days, he declined to make a public comment about where he stood on Biden and if he remained fit to run for office against Donald Trump.

Joe Biden’s record of public service is unrivaled. His accomplishments are immense. His legacy as a great president is secure.

He must not risk that legacy, those accomplishments and American democracy to soldier on in the face of the horrors promised by Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/FMMrTK8pb8

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— Jim Himes 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇦 (@jahimes) July 12, 2024

Like other Democrats who have called on Biden to drop out, Himes praised his tenure over the past three years — on gun safety, health care and infrastructure — and argued that he should look to preserve his legacy.

“It is because of those traits, and in consideration of that legacy, that I hope President Biden will step away from the presidential campaign,” Himes said in a statement.

“The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump’s promised MAGA authoritarianism. I no longer believe that is Joe Biden, and I hope that, as he has throughout this lifetime of public service, he will continue to put our nation first and, as he promised, make way for a new generation of leaders,” he added.

So far, the rest of Connecticut’s delegation has not called on Biden to withdraw from the race, but many of them have said the president needs to do more to assuage voter and party concerns about his ability to win reelection.

The Connecticut Mirror/Connecticut Public Radio federal policy reporter position is made possible, in part, by funding from the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation.

Connecticut Mirror is a content partner of States Newsroom. Read the original version here.