WASHINGTON — Senator Chuck Schumer of New York faces installation pressure resign as leader of the Democratic caucus in the Senate after eight members voted against his wishes On Sunday, we join Republicans in trying to end the longest government shutdown in history.
The vote was just the latest development in a tumultuous week for Schumer, 74, who after eight years as the Senate's top Democrat faces growing calls from within the party to make room for a new generation of leaders.
Last week's elections revealed the emergence growing progressive movement in Schumer's hometown, where the longtime senator refused to support Zoran Mamdani in his successful bid for mayor of New York.
National progressive organizations on Monday called on him to resign and called on the state's popular Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for the Senate seat in 2029. Polls show Schumer facing lowest approval numbers any national leader in Washington.
His leadership problems came on the heels of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), the first female Speaker of the House. announces his retirementa decision that drew praise across political circles last week, reflecting her astute ability to control the vast House Democratic caucus during high-stakes votes.
“Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) wrote on X after voting on Sunday evening. “If you can’t lead the fight to stop skyrocketing health care premiums for Americans, what will you fight for?”
Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the top House Democrat, told reporters Monday that he strongly disapproved of the new deal in the Senate, where seven Democrats and one independent voted to continue government funding.
For seven weeks, House and Senate Democrats have said they will not vote on legislation to reopen the government unless they can win an extension of health insurance subsidies. But the agreement reached in the Senate showed how some Democrats had given in to those negotiations.
Schumer reiterated his disapproval of the spending deal in a speech from the audience Monday. He criticized the compromise as a “Republican bill,” even though members of his party helped broker the deal.
“Republicans now own this health care crisis,” Schumer said. “They knew this was coming. We wanted to fix it, but they said no, and now it's on them.”
While Schumer gave his speech, Jeffries spoke to reporters at a news conference on the other side of the Capitol.
Asked if he believes Schumer remains an effective leader and should remain in office, Jeffries replied: “yes and yes“
When asked for more details, Jeffries said “the vast majority of Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, fought a valiant fight” and expressed his disapproval of Democrats who voted with Republicans on the bill.
“I'm not going to explain what a handful of Senate Democrats decided to do,” Jeffries said. “This is their explanation that they can offer to the American people.”
Now that the matter moves to the House, Jeffries said House Democrats will try to block the deal, which does not address health care spending.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday slammed Senate Democrats, who he said have “flipped.”
After speaking at the Milken Institute Global Investor Symposium In Sao Paulo, Newsom told The Times that the move dampened the momentum his party had enjoyed after a string of victories last week.
“You can't start something until you're going to finish it,” said Newsom, who next heads to the climate summit known as COP30 in Belém, Brazil. “Why the hell did we even do this? We could have done this deal in 20 minutes… Honestly, I don't know what's going on with my party.”
Zach Wahls, the Democratic candidate for the Iowa Senate, said Schumer “failed to lead this party at one of its most critical moments,” calling on him to resign. And Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, wrote that an effective leader could keep party members in line.
“Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership,” Moulton. wrote on X.
The eight members who voted to reopen the government—15% of the Senate Democratic caucus—voted directly against Schumer, who voted against the measure.
Wahls suggested that moderate members who voted with Republicans had Schumer's confidential blessing to do so.
“The fact that he voted against this deal, even though he clearly gave it his blessing privately, is a perfect illustration of why people no longer trust the Democratic Party,” Wahls said, “and as long as he remains in a leadership position, it will be impossible for anyone—whether in Iowa or any other swing state—to win a majority.”
Times Staff Writers Wilner and Ceballos reported from Washington: And Gutiérrez contributed from Sao Paulo.
