Schumer’s Approval Takes a Nosedive
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing some tough times, with just 32% of New York voters expressing a favorable opinion of him. This marks the lowest approval rating he’s seen in 21 years, according to a recent Siena College poll.
In fact, a significant 55% of participants in the poll reported an unfavorable view of Democratic leadership in the Senate.
Schumer’s declining popularity seems to stem from discontent among left-leaning Democrats who are urging him to resign. This sentiment has intensified due to frustrations over the absence of concessions from President Trump and the Republicans during a prolonged government shutdown.
It’s interesting—almost everyone, regardless of political affiliation—holds a negative view of Schumer. This includes liberals, moderates, and conservatives, and seems to cut across demographics, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds.
Among registered Democrats, opinions are nearly split, with 45% supporting him and 43% expressing disapproval. Still, there’s one group where Schumer has somewhat of a lifeline: 59% of black voters hold him in favor, while only 22% view him unfavorably. Conversely, 63% of white voters and 58% of Hispanic voters have given him low marks.
When it comes to Jewish voters, opinions are almost evenly divided: 46% have a favorable view, while 47% do not.
At 74, Schumer has long been a fixture in New York politics. He has served in various public offices since the 1970s—first as a state representative, then as a representative from Brooklyn, and finally being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998. His long tenure makes this drop in approval particularly striking.
To put things in perspective, he enjoyed a favorability rating of 63% to 20% in February 2005 when Siena first began polling in this format. At its peak in July 2005, his approval ratings soared to 70% to 22%. But as pollster Stephen Greenberg noted, he’s no longer seen positively by a considerable portion of voters in New York City and among most downstate and upstate residents.
Interestingly, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the well-known left-wing Congresswoman, seems to be emerging as a more popular figure than Schumer. Some of his fellow progressives are even suggesting that AOC should consider challenging Schumer in a primary if he runs for re-election in 2028.
Overall, Ocasio-Cortez’s favorability ranges from 42% to 37%, but it’s considerably higher among Democrats—62% to 20%—and city voters—55% to 27%. In contrast, only 38% of New York City residents view Schumer positively, while 48% hold a negative opinion.
The Siena poll was carried out from November 10 to 12, surveying 802 registered voters in New York State, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
