Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing a revolt from incoming Democrats, including several who flipped Republican-held seats, in the midterm elections, despite a major overperformance in Congress’ upper chamber under his watch, but Grant Davis Reeher, professor of political science at Syracuse University, told Newsweek he “wouldn’t underestimate” Schumer despite “simmering” frustration with his leadership. Democrats flipped seven seats in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas in the midterms, and seats in Alaska and Mississippi remain too close to call, meaning Democrats are expected to hold anywhere between 54 and 56 seats. Democrats pulled off stunning upsets in states President Donald Trump carried by double digits only two years earlier in 2024.
But several Democrats are uncommitted on supporting Schumer, who has been subject to criticism over his leadership in the second Trump administration. Many Democrats have called for new leadership in Congress and have indicated they would not vote for him. However, it’s not clear that these holdouts are actually enough to block Schumer from remaining the party’s leader.
Schumer has already said he has the votes to win the leadership election. Unlike House speaker elections, he only needs a majority of the Democratic conference. Furthermore, no other Democrats have signaled plans to run against Schumer.
Still, the defections from new Democratic senators underscore the longstanding push for fresh leadership in D.C. from the party’s base, and the calls span the party’s ideological divides, with both centrist and progressive Democrats saying they believe Schumer should not remain leader. Newsweek reached out to Schumer’s office for comment via email. Here is a look at the Democrats who have said they would not be supporting Schumer, or have called for new leadership.
Andrews, who flipped a seat in South Carolina, told Fox News she believes it is “time for generational change on both sides of the aisle” when asked if she plans to support him. El-Sayed, a progressive who defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, has declined to back Schumer, instead pointing to Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen as a potential replacement. During a campaign event in July, El-Sayed referred to Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen as the next Senate majority leader.
During a CNN interview after his victory, he said Van Hollen has to make the decision about whether to run himself, but that he believes he would make a great leader. Flanagan, who won an open seat in Minnesota, told Minneapolis-based news station KMSP she is “tremendously grateful” for Schumer’s leadership but that “it is time for new leadership.” “I think it’s time for a new leadership, and I’m eager to work in partnership with my new colleagues to get that done,” she said. Stratton, who won an open Senate race in Illinois, said during the primary she would not be supporting Schumer.
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