A New Coalition Among Democratic Senators
A group of Democratic senators, including Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders, is coming together to challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his approach to upcoming elections.
This coalition, which is being referred to as “Fight Club,” comprises Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts, Chris Van Hollen from Maryland, Chris Murphy from Connecticut, and Tina Smith from Minnesota. Their frustration is not just aimed at Schumer; they also have concerns regarding the actions of New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who leads the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.
As reported by the New York Times, Fight Club intends to directly address how Schumer and Gillibrand have selected candidates for the Senate, suggesting that their choices lean too heavily toward the traditional party establishment. Schumer’s refusal to support more progressive candidates, like New York City Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has drawn criticism from the left factions of the party.
The group is exploring community fundraising initiatives and discussing ways to support candidates through endorsements and campaign appearances. They are particularly focused on key primaries in open seats in Maine, Michigan, and Minnesota, where they believe the party leadership is favoring certain candidates.
Interestingly, Donald Trump narrowly won Michigan in the 2024 election but lost in Maine and Minnesota.
Along with Smith, Fight Club has already publicly endorsed Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan for the Senate seat that Smith will vacate. Flanagan’s backing comes amidst indications that Minnesota State Senator has no plans to endorse anyone else in the primary.
In addition to Flanagan, Sanders is also supporting other left-leaning figures such as Abdul El-Sayed, a former health official in Michigan, and Graham Platner, an oyster farmer in Maine. Notably, Platner has called for Schumer’s resignation from his leadership position.
There are whispers that Stevens, too, has refrained from explicitly stating whether she would support Schumer if he were to run again.
The New York Times notes that other senators, including Ed Markey from Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley from Oregon, and Martin Heinrich from New Mexico, are engaged in some of Fight Club’s activities. Markey, in particular, is facing strong competition from Representative Seth Moulton in the 2026 Democratic primary.
Schumer’s spokesperson, Alex Nguyen, emphasized that their primary goal is to secure a Democratic Senate majority in 2026. Any decisions made will be aimed at that objective.
Currently, Schumer is experiencing some of the lowest approval ratings he’s seen in decades. Recent Siena polls reveal some discontent across the party regarding his leadership, which has led to increasing criticism from various corners.
Back in March, Schumer successfully garnered enough support to pass a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown, which left some of his supporters feeling frustrated, as many hoped for a more aggressive stance against the Trump administration. His handling of this situation has led to dissatisfaction among party members, including a notable incident where eight senators crossed party lines to reopen the government after a lengthy shutdown.
Ocasio-Cortez has been reticent about potentially running against Schumer in 2028, yet the mounting criticism of Democratic leadership has sparked more calls for her to consider a challenge. Polls indicate she has consistently had a strong following among constituents.
When questioned in November about a possible face-off with Schumer, Ocasio-Cortez deftly avoided committing, suggesting that it’s a discussion for another time.
Efforts to reach out for comment from the senators involved in Fight Club have not been successful.
