Washington — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Tuesday he will not support New York Sen. Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader when the party takes control of the Senate, becoming the most high-profile progressive to oppose his candidacy to date.
Sanders made the announcement during a news conference at the Capitol, saying last week’s midterm elections were “about change.” Democrats will control at least 54 seats when the 120th Congress convenes in January.
“It was an election across the country, in red states and blue states, where people looked around and said, ‘What is happening in America, when I’m struggling to put food on the table, to pay for health care, to pay for housing, and I’m worried not only that my economic life is going nowhere, all things being equal, that my child in the richest country in the history of the world will have the level of life lower than me?’ And while all this is going on, the billionaire class has never been better,” Sanders said.
He added: “Personally, I have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years and I like Chuck. No one works harder than Chuck Schumer. But in my opinion, the time has come for change, and I will not support Chuck’s re-election as leader of the Democratic Party.”
Sanders, an independent who is caucusing with Democrats, called for “a vigorous debate about the direction of the Democratic Party.”
“We need to make this public to show the American people that a new day has arrived and their votes mean a new direction in Washington,” he said.
Sanders appeared alongside Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who said “whoever wants to lead this caucus should lay out a plan for how they’re going to govern differently, what they’re going to do in the first 100 days to put money in people’s pockets, and then particularly how they’re going to communicate differently.”
Slotkin said she was “not actively looking for this job” but was “looking for change.”
“Anyone who wants my vote will have to show me a concrete and definitely different plan,” Slotkin said. “I’m no until I see it from someone.”
No challenger has emerged to challenge Schumer’s role leading the Senate Democratic caucus, but Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has come closest to throwing his hat in the ring. After initially saying he would not seek the position, Van Hollen said this week he was exploring a possible candidacy.
“What I said from the beginning is we shouldn’t have a coronation,” he said Monday. “I’m in listening mode and I haven’t closed the door.”
At an event Tuesday, Van Hollen said he was “calling my colleagues.”
“I’m actively calling my colleagues because at the end of the day, this is a vote within the Democratic caucus,” he said.
Democrats are expected to hold their leadership elections in early December.
Gn usa
