Schumer’s Approval Rating Hits Lowest Point

CNN’s chief data analyst, Harry Enten, reported on Tuesday that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s approval rating is the lowest among Democratic Senate leaders since at least 1985.

As the longest government shutdown in history persists, a group of eight Democrats is proposing a stopgap bill, leading some within the party to call for Schumer’s ousting. Enten referenced recent data from the Pew Research Center and FiveThirtyEight, indicating Schumer’s approval rating among Democrats is currently at -4.

“Check this out: the most unpopular Democratic Senate leader in history. I looked through polls dating back to 1985, and it’s clear that Chuck Schumer holds that title,” Enten remarked. “He’s facing a deficit within his own party, sitting at minus four points. This makes him the least favored Democratic Senate leader since the mid-1980s.”

According to Enten, Schumer’s unpopularity stems from Democrats’ desire for a more aggressive leader. Polls suggest that a significant portion of Democrats feel Congress isn’t doing enough to challenge President Donald Trump. “In 2017, just 46% of Democrats thought Congress was not standing up enough against Trump. Now, that number has jumped to 69%,” he explained. “That’s a substantial increase. Many Democrats feel that their representatives aren’t adequately fighting against Trump, which has resulted in a lot of criticism directed at Schumer.”

Furthermore, Enten noted a Siena College poll revealing that Schumer’s standing in his home state, New York, has significantly declined. He speculated that Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could potentially defeat Schumer if she chose to run against him.

“The ultimate way to remove Chuck Schumer from office is to defeat him in New York. What do New York Democrats think? Schumer does hold a lead in his home state, but it’s just 16 points,” he said. “Conversely, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is polling far ahead. If she were to challenge Schumer in 2028, she would likely have a significant advantage. Honestly, I would find that astonishing, even just a few years back… you know, seeing a 30-point lead. Wow.”

Even though Schumer has publicly opposed the shutdown deal, many progressives have criticized him for not securing one of the party’s key demands: an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies expiring at year’s end.

Schumer has also faced considerable backlash for voting in favor of a Republican-backed spending bill in March, which aimed to prevent a government shutdown.