The Dems are in disarray after 8 Senate Democrats joined all Senate Republicans to reopen the government last night. But the target of Democrat rage isn’t any of the Senators that crossed the aisle – it’s Chuck Schumer. The uproar has created a new litmus test in Democrats’ messy 2026 primaries.
“The Chuck Schumer vs Bernie Sanders proxy war is raging across the 2026 Senate map, and calls for an end to Schumer’s reign are the radical left’s new battlecry,” said NRSC Communications Director Joanna Rodriguez. “Schumer’s biggest challenge in 2026 won’t just be trying to get Democrats elected, it’ll be trying to get enough Democrats elected that will let him stay in power.”
Calls for Schumer to step aside as Senate Democrat Leader came from all corners of the Democrat ecosystem including radical grassroots groups, left-wing media allies, Democrat House members, and Democrat Senate candidates across the 2026 Senate map.
The headlines are brutal:
- Axios: “Schumer faces mounting Dem calls to resign as leader”
Newsweek: “Chuck Schumer Faces Democratic Fury After Government Shutdown Deal” - Huffington Post: “Knives Are Out For Chuck Schumer After Democrats Cave On Shutdown”
- NY Post: “Democrats melt down, call for Chuck Schumer’s ouster after deal to end government shutdown clears Senate hurdle”
- The Hill: “Platner: Schumer ‘failed’ in shutdown fight and should step down as leader”
- Des Moines Register: “Zach Wahls, Nathan Sage call on Dem leader Chuck Schumer to step down as shutdown ends”
- USA Today: “Progressive group calls for Sen. Chuck Schumer to resign over shutdown vote”
- Axios: “Exclusive: MoveOn calls on Schumer to step aside”
- Fox News: “‘The View’ co-host rails against Democrats who voted to end shutdown, says Chuck Schumer’s ‘days are over'”
The most progressive Democrats across the Senate map have made it clear they’re fed up with Schumer:
- In Iowa, two of the three Democrats racing to the left in their primary and were quick to pile onto Schumer:
- In a video on social media, Nathan Sage said, “Senate Dems caved and Chuck Schumer let it happen. It’s time for him to go.”
- Zach Wahls said, “Sen. Chuck Schumer was unable to lead this party at the exact moment when it was time to fight. And I think it is clear as day that it is time for him to step down from his leadership role and make way for a new generation of leaders who are willing to fight.”
- In Maine, Bernie Sanders-endorsed Graham Platner slammed Schumer saying, “Chuck Schumer failed in his job yet again,” and urged his followers to “Call your senators and say that Chuck Schumer can no longer be leader.”
- In Michigan’s messy competitive primary, two of the three candidates have been vocal dissenters of Schumer for months.
- Mallory McMorrow has been calling for Schumer to step aside since March, and reiterated again this week saying, “We need new leaders in the Senate.”
- Abdul El-Sayed launched his campaign in April refusing to support Schumer as leader.
- New Hampshire activist Karishma Manzur has said she would not back Schumer since September.
- Texas radical Jasmine Crockett said earlier this year that Senate Democrats need to “sit down and take a look and decide whether or not Chuck Schumer is the one to lead in this moment.”
All eyes are on the candidates who haven’t weighed in yet, including many Schumer recruits. Will they cower to their radical base and call for Schumer to step aside?
- Georgia’s Jon Ossoff supported Schumer in the past, but hasn’t weighed in this year on whether he should continue to serve.
- Iowa’s Josh Turek has been dodging questions about whether he’d support Schumer since September and declined to comment again today.
- In Maine, Janet Mills and Jordan Wood have yet to take a position on whether Schumer should continue to serve as Leader.
- Mills, who is currently down double digits to Platner and is Schumer’s handpicked recruit, called for Democrats to “fight back” in her opposition to the vote, but did not weigh in on Schumer.
- Wood said the deal was a “Sad night for the Democratic Party,” but also declined to weigh in on Schumer.
- Minnesota’s Angie Craig and her progressive opponent Peggy Flanagan have been dodging questions on Schumer’s leadership status all year.
- Schumer’s preferred candidate in Michigan, Haley Stevens, was called out by a reporter for refusing to answer a direct question about whether she would support her benefactor. “That was a punt,” he said.
- In New Hampshire, Schumer’s handpicked candidate Chris Pappas has refused to respond to questions about whether he’ll support Schumer.
- Schumer’s North Carolina recruit Roy Cooper has repeatedly declined to answer whether he would support Schumer if elected.
- Former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown supported Schumer when he was in the Senate and has declined to comment when asked this year.
- And in Texas, Colin Allred and James Talarico both dodged when asked about supporting Schumer earlier this year.