Sen. Tim Kaine defends Schumer, says House Democrats ‘should focus on their own leadership’
WASHINGTON — Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, defended Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in an exclusive interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” urging House Democrats to stick to their chamber rather than focus on the party’s direction in the Senate.
“I’m not telling Ro Khanna or AOC or anyone else who you should pick for House leader, because I got a full-time job as a senator,” Kaine said Sunday, referring to Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
“I don’t need independent opinions on House leadership,” Kaine said. “They should focus on their own leadership and let senators do what we need to do to keep this country moving forward.” »
After a handful of Democrats sided with Republicans on a funding bill aimed at reopening the government, Khanna said in a message to X that he believes Schumer “is no longer effective and should be replaced.” Ocasio-Cortez said the “problem” was bigger than Schumer, but in an interview with Politico last week she said, “It’s Senate Democrats who choose their leadership.”
In a separate interview on “Meet the Press,” Khanna said Schumer “doesn’t inspire confidence. He’s not bold. He’s out of touch with the base.”
“He’s someone who encouraged us to participate in the war in Iraq, he doesn’t have the moral clarity on Gaza, he couldn’t pronounce Mamdani’s name, and that was the final straw because he wasn’t committed to fighting for health care,” he said, referring to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
The record shutdown ended last week when eight Democratic senators sided with Republicans on a funding deal, which did not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, although health care is one of Democrats’ key demands. Kaine was one of the lawmakers who voted with the Republicans, infuriating many in his own party.
The other seven senators he joined were Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire; Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada; Dick Durbin of Illinois; John Fetterman of Pennsylvania; and Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats.
As part of the deal, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he would hold a vote on expanding the Affordable Care Act subsidies. House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, has not made a similar promise on the House side.
Kaine pointed out that the funding bill also included a full year of funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), federal worker protections and a future Senate vote on health care subsidies.
“Frankly, I saw the situation last weekend because we had no path, none, to a solution in health care until we reopened the government,” Kaine told moderator Kristen Welker. “Now we have a path, not a guarantee, but we at least have a path. »
Although House Republicans have not promised to vote on Obamacare subsidies, Kaine argued that it would be “malpractice” for House Republicans not to pass a health care proposal if it gets bipartisan support.
“If they don’t do this, I’ll give you a prediction: The November 2026 election will be much worse for Republicans than the November 2025 election,” Kaine said.
The Virginia senator also hasn’t ruled out voting against government funding bills in January, when lawmakers face the next potential government shutdown.
“Don’t ask me to assume failure in the efforts we are undertaking,” Kaine said when asked if he would rule out a government shutdown next year if Democrats fail to secure an extension of Obamacare subsidies.
