Democratic lawmakers are targeting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) after eight senators defected from his caucus to push forward a deal to end the government shutdown.
On Sunday, seven Democratic senators and one independent, Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, joined Republicans to push forward a deal that would end the record shutdown. Schumer voted against the measure, but his vote has not protected him from critics on the Left who say that the deal has exposed Schumer’s inability to lead.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?” Rep. Ro Khanna of California posted on X.
“Don’t endorse or say who you voted for in NYC despite there being a Dem candidate. Get Dem Senators to negotiate a terrible ‘deal’ that does nothing real about healthcare. Screw over a national political party,” Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin said in an X post, referring to Schumer. “Profile of scourge? Next.”
“Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership. If [Schumer] were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare. Maybe now [Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts] will finally join me in pledging not to vote for Schumer?” Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who is running for U.S. Senate, posted on Sunday night.
“Chuck Schumer has not met this moment and Senate Democrats would be wise to move on from his leadership,” wrote Rep. Mark Levin of California in a post on X.
Democratic contenders vying for a spot in the next Congress have echoed the calls as well, including Graham Platner, who is running to unseat GOP Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, and Saikat Chakrabarti, who is running for retiring Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s seat, according to The Guardian.
The Democratic senators who joined King in pushing forward the deal to end the shutdown are Catherine Cortez Masto, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jacky Rosen, and Jeanne Shaheen. But Schumer has borne the brunt of the criticism despite voting against the measure.
“Democrats have been fighting for months to address America’s healthcare crisis,” Schumer said in a post on X Sunday night. “We will keep fighting.”
