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Bernie Sanders Refuses To Back Chuck Schumer as Senate Democratic Leader
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Bernie Sanders will not back Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader. Progressives and centrists pressure Schumer; Van Hollen and Jeffries considered alternatives.
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19 outlets in this story. Read their headlines below.
Schumer faces leadership revolt
Senator Chuck Schumer said, "I’ll be reelected as majority leader," as Democratic senators weigh whether to keep him as Senate Democratic leader. Senator Bernie Sanders said, "I will not be supporting Chuck to be re-elected as the Democratic leader," joining a growing cohort of Democrats calling for new leadership. Senator Elissa Slotkin said she was "seeking change," and she argued that Democrats should withhold quorum if Schumer seeks another term as caucus leader without opposition.
“There should be no coronation of the next Democratic leader.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen said, "There should be no coronation of the next Democratic leader," while he urged colleagues to "withhold commitments" until Schumer outlines his vision for the party. Democrats are preparing for a closed-door leadership vote by secret ballot, with the new Congress taking office on January 3, 2027.
Who backs whom next
Senator Mark Warner and Senator Raphael Warnock withheld support for Schumer, and Newsweek described their stance as reflecting broader unease within parts of the caucus. Senator Elissa Slotkin told reporters, "Whoever wants my vote is gonna have to show me a concrete plan that's definitively different," while she said Democrats need leadership that will govern for the entirety of the caucus. Senator Bernie Sanders said, "I personally have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years, and I like Chuck," while he argued that "the time is now for change" and he would not support Schumer again.
A Van Hollen associate told Politico that the Maryland Democrat had received "a large number of calls and is now in listening mode," and the Democracy Now! account said the door was not closed. Democracy Now! reported that the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers joined the push, writing in a Monday letter to Schumer: "We believe this is the right time for a new generation to lead the Senate Democrats."
Israel ties and party direction
The Mondoweiss account linked the leadership fight to a wider battle over the Democratic Party’s relationship with Israel, saying Schumer and Jeffries are "vocal opponents of the BDS movement" and have voted against attempts to condition or cut military aid to Israel. Mondoweiss quoted Jeffries saying, "Israel today, Israel tomorrow, Israel forever!" and quoted Schumer saying, "My job is to keep the left pro-Israel." Senator Abdul El-Sayed told an audience at his victory party, "We don’t want our money sent to do apartheid or genocide or war," as he highlighted Palestinian rights on the campaign trail.
“My job is to keep the left pro-Israel.”
The PBS account said Sanders and Slotkin called for "a vigorous debate about the party's direction and future," while Sanders said, "The time is now for change." PBS reported that Schumer, 75, said, "I’m confident I will be elected," and it said the Democrats in the Senate had just begun leadership conversations ahead of elections expected later this month.