A group of seven Democratic Massachusetts state senators called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race Thursday night as his political support across the country appeared to be all but crumbling around him.

Biden has faced a growing chorus from inside his own party to let someone else run against former President Donald Trump, who survived an assassination attempt this past week and formally accepted the Republican nomination at his party’s convention Thursday.

The senators, whose districts range from Northampton to Quincy, said most Americans and the majority of Democrats “now believe that President Biden is not capable of vigorously campaigning and serving as president for another four years.”

“Now it is time for him to pass the torch to the next generation of Democratic leaders. We are calling for President Biden to step aside so that a different candidate can be nominated at the Democratic convention in August,” they said in a statement. “… He is unable to effectively prosecute the case against Donald Trump, who represents a grave threat to the future of this country and the world.”

The legislators — Sens. Jo Comerford of Northampton, Paul Feeney of Foxboro, Pat Jehlen of Somerville, John Keenan of Quincy, Jason Lewis of Winchester, Michael Moore of Millbury, and Jamie Eldridge of Marlboro, who is a super delegate to the Democratic National Convention — join others in Massachusetts who have made similar calls.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Salem Democrat, became the first member of the state’s congressional delegation earlier this month to ask Biden to step aside. Others, like U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, have expressed concerns with the president’s ability to keep campaigning.

Related Articles

Howie Carr: Time to exit the stage, Joe Biden

Biden expected to drop out of 2024 race within a week: sources

Editorial: Detractors desperate to downplay Trump shooting

Franks: Trump’s trajectory rankles angry Democrats

Battenfeld: Trump delivers gripping acceptance speech with Democrats in disarray

Gov. Maura Healey, a top reelection surrogate for Biden, said last week that Biden could still beat Trump but called on the president to “evaluate” whether he is the best Democrat to run for the White House.

Another top local Democrat and Democratic National Convention super delegate, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, said earlier this week that his job is “to adhere to the voters and go forward and into Chicago with a vote for Joe Biden if we get there in August.”

“I mean the debate performance was obviously not good, but I think his record of achievement over the three and a half years, I think, shows that he has been a great president and can be a great president going forward as well,” the North End Democrat told reporters.

Democrats at the highest levels have privately and publicly expressed concerns or explicitly called on Biden to withdraw from the presidential race.

Former President Barack Obama has expressed concerns to allies and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has privately told Biden the party could lose the ability to gain control of the House if he does not bow out of the 2024 race, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who faces a tough reelection bid in Montana, became the second Democrat in the U.S. Senate to call on Biden to exit the race.

Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s campaign chair, acknowledged support for the president had experienced “slippage” but said the president is “absolutely” remaining in the race. There are “multiple paths” to victory,” she said.

“We have a lot of work to do to reassure the American people that yes he’s old, but he can win,” she told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show.

Back in Massachusetts, the group of seven local senators said many are concerned that if Biden remains at the top of the ticket, Republicans will end up with control of the presidency and both houses of Congress.

“This would be catastrophic for Massachusetts and our entire nation,” the group said.

Materials from the Associated Press were used in this report.