Tampa Bay Rep. Castor: Biden should pass the torch

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents Hillsborough County and a portion of Pinellas County in Congress, prefers President Joe Biden to not seek re-election.

“I think it’s an exciting time to possibly pass the torch,” Castor said.

The Tampa Bay area Democratic congresswoman confirmed her stance Friday. She supports Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket.

“Kamala Harris is a fighter and I have full confidence in her,” Castor said.

The U.S. representative is also running for re-election. Her district is a safe seat for a Democrat. But she’s mostly concerned about down-the-ballot Florida races and issues.

“There is a lot at stake this election,” Castor said. “Whether it’s our school board races, whether it’s Amendment 4, when we talk about reproductive freedom, decriminalizing marijuana is important, city council members, members of Congress.”

Castor joins a growing list of House Democrats calling for President Biden to step aside.

During a breakfast with the Florida RNC delegation in Milwaukee this week, Gov. Ron DeSantis told Floridians he wants President Biden to stay in the race.

“I sure hope h ends up with the Democratic nomination for President of the United States,” DeSantis said. ” If the Democrats want to go down this road, I think that’s the best possible scenario for Republicans.”

Although later on the speech, the governor fears ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana and to enshrine abortion access would help the democrats in the long run in Florida.

As for Castor, she is proud of President Biden’s term, so far, in the White House.

“He has served this country well. I think back to the time when he launched the Cancer Moonshot and came here to Tampa and Moffitt Cancer Center folks were there,” Castor said.

The congresswoman also approved of President Biden being able to help pass legislation such as: The Inflation Reduction Act, which focused on clean energy and the climate, the infrastructure law which funds highway and transit projects, and the Safer Communities Act, which implemented mental health and gun measures.

“We’ve accomplished more under President Biden than any president since Lyndon Johnson,” Castor said.

Many in the party expect President Biden to announce his departure from the ticket this weekend but remain as the commander-in-chief.

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