Schumer is pressured to step aside as Senate Democratic leader after shutdown vote

WASHINGTON- Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York faces growing pressure to resign as leader of the Senate Democratic caucus after eight members voted against his wishes on Sunday, joining Republicans in an attempt to end the longest government shutdown in history.

The vote is just the latest development in a troubling week for Schumer, 74, who, after eight years as Senate Democratic leader, faces growing calls within the party to make way for a new generation of leaders.

Last week’s election revealed the emergence of a growing progressive movement in Schumer’s hometown, where the longtime senator declined to support Zohran Mamdani in his bid for mayor of New York.

National progressive organizations on Monday urged him to step down and encouraged a popular state lawmaker, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to run for her Senate seat in 2029. Polls show Schumer faces the lowest approval rating of any national leader in Washington.

His leadership woes follow the announcement of her retirement by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), the first female speaker of the House, last week, a move that drew praise across the political aisle last week, reflecting her astute ability to control a sprawling 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 Sunday night’s vote. “If you can’t lead the fight to prevent skyrocketing health care premiums for Americans, what will you fight for? »

Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House’s top Democrat, told reporters Monday that he strongly disapproves of the deal pending in the Senate, where seven Democrats and one independent caucus with the party have voted in favor of government funding.

For seven weeks, House and Senate Democrats have said they would not pass legislation to reopen the government unless they could secure an extension of health insurance subsidies. But the agreement reached in the Senate shows the extent to which certain Democrats have given in on this substantive negotiation.

Schumer reiterated his disapproval of the spending deal in a speech Monday. He criticized the compromise, calling it 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 going to happen. We wanted to fix it and they said no, and now it’s their responsibility.”

As Schumer delivered his speech, Jeffries spoke to reporters at a news conference on the other side of the Capitol.

When asked if he thought Schumer remained an effective leader and should remain in his position, Jeffries responded “yes and yes.”

When asked to elaborate, Jeffries said “the overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer put up a valiant fight” and disapproved 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 to offer to the American people.”

Now that the effort turns to the House, Jeffries said House Democrats would try to block a deal that doesn’t address health care costs.

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday harshly criticized Senate Democrats, who he said had “reversed themselves.”

After speaking at the Milken Institute’s Global Investor Symposium in São Paulo, Newsom told the Times that the move dampened the momentum his party was enjoying after a string of victories last week.

“You don’t start something unless you finish it,” said Newsom, who will next travel to the climate summit known as COP30 in Belém, Brazil. “Why the hell did we do this in the first place? We could have done this deal in 20 minutes. … Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on with my party.”

Zach Wahls, Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate, said Schumer had “failed to lead this party in one of its most critical moments,” calling for his resignation. And Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, wrote that an effective leader would have been able to keep party members in line.

“Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership,” Moulton wrote on X.

All eight members who voted to reopen the government – ​​15% of the Senate Democratic caucus – voted directly against Schumer, who voted against the measure.

Wahls speculated that moderate members who voted with Republicans privately received Schumer’s blessing to do so.

“The fact that he voted against this deal, when he clearly gave it his blessing in private, is a perfect illustration of why people no longer trust the Democratic Party,” Wahls said, “and as long as he remains in a leadership role, it will be impossible for anyone — whether in Iowa or any other swing state — to win a majority.”

Times Editors Wilner and Ceballos reported from Washington, And Gutierrez contributed from São Paulo.