Democratic lawmakers and progressive activist groups are criticizing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer due to the support of eight Democrats for a bipartisan plan aimed at ending the 41-day government shutdown.
Among those calling for Schumer’s resignation are Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and Democratic senators Ro Khanna from California and Seth Moulton from Massachusetts. While Schumer has publicly opposed the shutdown deal, his progressive critics are upset about his failure to meet a crucial demand from Democrats: extending Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of December.
During a recent vote, eight Democratic senators approved a continuing resolution (CR) to advance in the House, achieving the necessary votes to clear the Senate’s 60-vote bar. Schumer voted against the procedural motion but still enjoys significant support from Congressional Democrats and the party base.
“I’m not going to campaign in Massachusetts on a new generation leadership platform and then support the status quo in Washington,” stated Congressman Moulton. A left-leaning YouTuber, Jack Cocchiarella, also commented, saying it’s time to move on while acknowledging Schumer’s contributions.
Moulton, who is challenging Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey in a primary, noted that Markey, despite being against the bipartisan shutdown deal, hasn’t called for Schumer’s ousting.
Khanna, another vocal critic, expressed on social media that “Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be removed.” He questioned the leadership’s ability to combat rising healthcare costs, suggesting that without that fight, there’s little left to pursue.
Progressive candidates aiming for Senate seats, alongside various Democratic groups mobilizing voters, also distanced themselves from the shutdown agreement. Platner, aiming to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins, called for Schumer’s resignation, emphasizing that some Senate Democrats capitulated due to Schumer’s failure.
He urged constituents to contact their senators and advocate for Schumer’s removal from leadership. Our Revolution, a group aligned with Bernie Sanders, similarly demanded Schumer step down, accusing him of incompetence if he couldn’t maintain order in the party.
Representative Rashida Tlaib, part of the left-wing group known as the Squad, echoed the sentiment, saying Schumer has not effectively communicated with the public during this crucial time. She stated, “The Democratic Party needs leaders who will fight for working people and deliver results.”
On the other hand, Senator Brian Schatz defended Schumer’s leadership, recalling his efforts during the shutdown negotiations. He noted that despite voting against the CR, Schumer fought hard against the situation that led to it.
Meanwhile, some opposing Democrats argued that joining Republicans to end the shutdown was not a sign of surrender, suggesting it was an opportunity to pursue better policies that ultimately fell short.
A proposed vote on the Democratic bill aimed at extending ACA subsidies is expected to face significant Republican opposition, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to commit to bringing it to the floor.
