Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing scrutiny from progressive members of his party for his recent fundraising performance, according to recent reports.
Federal Election Commission filings indicate that the five-term senator has seen a slowdown in his fundraising over the last quarter, which raises questions about the future of the 74-year-old politician amidst a rising left-wing youth movement.
There’s speculation about a potential primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 36, who represents portions of the Bronx and Queens. She notably raised $4.5 million for her House re-election campaign in the past quarter, which was quite a jump from the $133,000 she earned in the previous three-month period.
Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t dismissed the idea of challenging Schumer, and some even suggest that her ambitions could extend to the White House.
In this latest fundraising cycle, Schumer collected less than half of the $337,000 he garnered during his 2022 campaign, a major drop considering how senators often increase fundraising as elections near.
Interestingly, his campaign spending has exceeded the $322,000 he raised from July to September, according to his recent reports. This contrast seems significant, especially when considering his backing from wealthy donors, including those from Wall Street, the legal field, and real estate—industries that prominently support his political action committee.
Comparatively, during the same quarter leading up to the 2022 elections, Schumer raised an impressive $5.9 million for his campaign. His Senate Majority PAC, linked to him, also set a record with $119 million collected by October of last year.
Ocasio-Cortez has a notable presence in terms of fundraising too; she has around $11.8 million for her political endeavors, while Schumer holds $8.6 million for his 2026 election bid.
As Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, noted, “There are significant political and economic advantages to being bold and harnessing the energy.” Right now, that energy seems to favor Ocasio-Cortez more than Schumer.
As Schumer approaches his 78th birthday in January 2029, he has faced backlash for endorsing older candidates, like 77-year-old Maine Gov. Janet Mills. Despite the heat, there’s a consensus that Schumer could pick up his fundraising efforts if necessary. Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf remarked, “He’ll get it when he needs it.”
