Fresno State professor not shocked after Costa calling on Biden to drop out

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Fresno State political science professor Tom Holyoke says he is not shocked to see the statement Representative Jim Costa sent on Thursday afternoon regarding whether President Joe Biden should continue to run for reelection.

President Biden has been an incredible President who has led this country back to strength after the Pandemic. I am proud of the work we have done to pass monumental legislation that is leading to the first real investments in our communities in decades. But for the good of the country, I think it is time for the President to pass the torch to the next generation to carry on the legacy he started. Democrats need to unite and deliver their strongest team to the American people in this election.

Jim Costa.

Costa is now one of 22 Democratic members and senators to openly call on Biden to step aside in the race for the White House.

“Congressman Costa is now kind of jumping on the bandwagon of congressional Democrats and other Democratic leaders who are increasingly concerned that President Biden is going to weigh down the ticket, as they say,” Holyoke said.

Holyoke says this is not just about whether or not Costa thinks Biden can win, but how it could impact the balance of power in the House, as Democrats are looking to pick up seats in November.

“Not only might Biden lose against Donald Trump, but he might take a lot of Democratic members of Congress down with them, and Jim Costa might even be a little concerned about his own prospects.”

Costa represents California’s 21st Congressional District, which includes parts of Fresno and Tulare counties. He’s facing a competitive Republican challenger- Michael Maher.

During the March 5 primary, the race was close. Maher received nearly 38,000 votes and Costa won around 42,000 votes.

Holyoke says if Democrats are not excited about the top of the ticket and choose not to vote, it could have a huge impact on down-ballot races like this one.

He says if Biden were to drop out, he should do it before the Democratic National Convention.

“So Democrats are going to make a change of they they’re going to need to do it soon. And the pressure on President Biden’s been starting to grow pretty rapidly in the last few days,” Holyoke said.

Still, he says if that happens, the next big step would be figuring out who would replace him and getting that candidate the money the Biden campaign has raised.

“If they’re going to do this, they need to do it cleanly. Biden out somebody else in.”

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