New Mexico’s senior senator is calling on President Joe Biden to “pass the torch” to give Democrats a better chance of defeating former President Donald Trump in November.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich is the third Senate Democrat to publicly call on Biden to step aside as Democrats’ presidential nominee, following Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Peter Welch of Vermont. A handful of House Democrats are also beseeching Biden to get out of the race, including four more on Friday.

Heinrich, in a statement Friday morning, praised Biden for his successes leading the country and long career in public service.

“However, this moment in our nation’s history calls for a focus that is bigger than any one person. The return of Donald Trump to the White House poses an existential danger to our democracy. We must defeat him in November, and we need a candidate who can do that.”

Heinrich said the choice to withdraw is “President Biden’s alone,” but he believes it’s in the country’s best interests for him to step aside.

“By passing the torch, he would secure his legacy as one of our nation’s greatest leaders and allow us to unite behind a candidate who can best defeat Donald Trump and safeguard the future of our democracy,” Heinrich said.

Biden, so far, has adamantly refused calls for him to step aside, though the New York Times reported this week he may be softening on that view.

This story is republished from Source New Mexico which, like the Kentucky Lantern, is part of the nonprofit States Newsroom network.