Chuck Schumer is facing a challenge to his leadership of Senate Democrats after at least seven newly elected colleagues declined to commit to supporting him, despite his confidence that he will retain the role.
The New York senator told reporters in Washington on Wednesday: “I’ll be re-elected as majority leader.” His comments came after Democrats secured a larger-than-expected Senate majority in the US midterm elections.
Several incoming senators have openly called for a change at the top. Illinois senator-elect Juliana Stratton said through a spokesperson that she would not support Mr Schumer, while Kansas senator-elect Adam Hamilton said: “I’m not supporting Schumer.”
Maine senator-elect Troy Jackson said he had told Mr Schumer he would “support somebody else”. Minnesota senator-elect Peggy Flanagan said: “It is time for new leadership.”
New Hampshire senator-elect Chris Pappas said voters were “hungry for … a new generation of leadership in the Senate”. Texas senator-elect James Talarico has called for “new blood” in Washington, while saying he wanted to hear Mr Schumer’s vision before deciding whether to back him.
Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has said he will support Maryland senator Chris Van Hollen, who is regarded as a possible alternative. Mr Van Hollen recently said Democrats should not commit to Mr Schumer without promises of a “bold agenda”.
Pressure for a contested leadership vote
The dispute reflects wider demands for a new direction following the election. Mr Jackson has questioned Mr Schumer’s ability to connect with working-class voters, while Ms Flanagan’s staff said she wanted “a progressive champion” to guide Democrats through the final two years of Donald Trump’s presidency and into 2028.
Mr El-Sayed may also be difficult to persuade after Mr Schumer backed his opponent, Haley Stevens, during Michigan’s Democratic primary.
Mr Schumer, 75, has faced criticism from Democrats over his handling of the Trump administration, including accusations that he did not do enough to block cabinet confirmations. He was also criticised for backing a Republican bill to reopen federal agencies during last year’s government shutdown without securing concessions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described that decision as a “capitulation” that abandoned Democratic priorities including healthcare subsidies. Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said Mr Schumer should have stepped down as leader.
The New York Democrat has also been at the centre of disagreements over foreign policy within his party. In remarks posted online in February, he said one of his core duties was “to fight for aid to Israel” and claimed that more security assistance had been delivered to the country under his leadership than ever before.
Mr Schumer said on Wednesday that the party’s new Senate strategy would involve investigations into the Trump administration, opposition to the president’s agenda and ending his war in Iran. But some Democrats have indicated that those commitments do not go far enough.
Progressive organisation Indivisible has urged Democratic senators, including those newly elected, to demand a contested leadership election rather than allowing Mr Schumer to face no serious opponent.
“Who leads the party in this era must be an open question, not a coronation,” the organisation said in a memo.
Schumer retains support among Senate Democrats
Mr Schumer needs a simple majority of the Democratic Senate caucus, projected to contain between 54 and 56 members, to remain leader. He still has prominent supporters, including New Jersey senator Cory Booker.
Mr Booker praised Mr Schumer’s handling of the midterms, describing the result as “one of the most historic sweeps” for the party. “We’re gonna have a family discussion,” he said, adding that Americans should give Mr Schumer “his due for what we were able to achieve”.
Asked about the criticism facing him, Mr Schumer said the election was “not about” him. “This is about the American people and what they want and what they need and what we can do to help them. Plain and simple,” he said.
