New Democratic senators want someone other than Chuck Schumer to become the next U.S. Senate majority leader, even though Schumer likely still has enough votes in his caucus to remain the top Democrat.
Annie Andrews, the Democratic senator-elect from South Carolina, told Fox News’ Bret Baier on Thursday that the Democratic Party needs new leadership. Asked if she would support Schumer’s candidacy for leadership, she responded, “I still strongly believe it’s time for generational change on both sides of the aisle.” »
Adam Hamilton, the senator-elect from Kansas, told CNN on the campaign trail that he would not support Schumer as party leader. Hamilton, the first Democrat to win a Kansas Senate seat in 94 years, ran as an independent of the Democratic Party.
Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan’s senator-elect, on Thursday again declined to support Schumer as majority leader on CNN and said he wanted to consider other options.
Other new Democrats also declined to support Schumer, including James Talarico, the Texas senator-elect; Juliana Stratton, senator-elect from Illinois; Chris Pappas, senator-elect from New Hampshire; Peggy Flanagan, senator-elect from Minnesota; and Troy Jackson, the senator-elect from Maine
Democratic voters have indicated they want younger, younger leaders in the party. Over the past two years, progressive Democrats have scored major victories in local and state elections.
That has led some lawmakers to call for similar changes to decade-old leadership. Schumer, 75, has been the Democratic leader in the Senate since 2017.
But Schumer didn’t seem worried about his bid for Senate majority leader, telling reporters Wednesday: “I will be re-elected as majority leader.”
Schumer likely has enough votes within his party to become the next majority leader. He also ran uncontested Friday afternoon — no other Senate Democrats have officially thrown their hat in the ring.
But the longtime Democrat also encouraged members of his party to come together.
“The problem is not with me…the problem is with the American people and what they want,” Schumer told reporters.
After securing comfortable majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats will head into a new Congress with the ability to fend off Donald Trump’s administration and pass the legislation they promised voters.
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