Two Senate Democrats have publicly refused to support Chuck Schumer as their party’s leader in the next Congress, dealing a fresh blow to the New York senator as he seeks another term atop the caucus.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) told reporters Tuesday they would not back Schumer, who is vying to lead the incoming Democratic majority. Their comments came after a meeting with Schumer where he outlined some policy ideas, but both senators said those proposals fell short.
Sanders, the chamber’s most prominent progressive, said Schumer has not done enough to address income and wealth inequality. “I don’t want to get into specific proposals, but I think the time and the moment when you have more income and wealth inequality than we’ve ever had in the history of this country, when our younger generation were on the lowest standard of living than their parents, the time is now to deal with the need to create an economy that works for all, not just the people on top,” Sanders said. Asked directly whether Schumer has been leading in that direction, Sanders replied: “No.”
Slotkin, a first-term senator seen by some as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said she is “seeking change.” She called on any leadership candidate to release a detailed plan for the first 100 days and beyond, focusing on issues like artificial intelligence. She also urged colleagues to withhold quorum on a leader vote if only one candidate emerges, until such a plan is presented.
“We need leadership that’s going to govern for the entirety of the caucus, for folks from blue states, purple states and red states,” Slotkin said.
Slotkin declined to endorse Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who is considering a challenge to Schumer. She said she had a “really productive conversation” with Van Hollen on Monday but wants a concrete and different governing plan from any candidate. She criticized the caucus for not articulating a clear plan in the two years since she joined the Senate. “I’ve sat in that room and tried to figure out what our plan was for two years, and I think maybe it’s because I come from a national security background, you can’t lead people if you can’t lay out where you’re going,” she said.
The dissatisfaction extends to incoming senators. Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.) has said he would back Van Hollen over Schumer. Sen.-elect Annie Andrews (D-S.C.) wants “generational change” and pledged during her campaign not to support Schumer. Sens.-elect Adam Hamilton (D-Kan.) and Troy Jackson (D-Maine) have also said they will not back Schumer. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) declined to endorse Schumer, telling reporters that calls for new leadership “are a sentiment that is seen in a lot of places,” though she noted the decision is up to the Senate. AOC withholds endorsement as the leadership vote nears.
Despite the growing opposition, no challenger has formally entered the race. Schumer has led Senate Democrats for nearly a decade and is credited with helping the party win a sweeping victory through candidate recruitment and fundraising. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who chaired the party’s campaign arm and is running to do so again, defended Schumer. “We spent a year and a half talking about costs, corruption and chaos. That was all Leader Schumer’s decision-making and effort to keep our caucus united,” Gillibrand said, also praising his fundraising and recruiting. “No one has put into the time and effort that anyone has put in the cycle that he did,” she added. “That is why, you will see, despite all the grumbling, enormous gratitude for the hard work he has done to get us to this position.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said that while he has had differences with Schumer, he still supports his leadership. “It’s time for us to unify, we are going to work together as a caucus and put a plan together about how to move forward for what the country wants us to do and I think, you know, we have the person who’s gonna lead us there,” Gallego said.
The internal fight mirrors recent leadership battles in the Senate GOP, where conservatives forced delays in their own leader election. Senate GOP delays leadership vote as Thune faces backlash. For Democrats, the question now is whether Schumer can hold his caucus together or whether a challenger will emerge to tap into the restless mood.
