Senate Democrats Not Fully United Behind Schumer as Democratic Majority Leader

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Nov. 10 that he is confident he will lead the incoming Democratic majority, shortly after two members of his caucus said they would not support him.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, told reporters at the Capitol that he has known Schumer for more than 30 years and that nobody works harder.

“But in my view, the time is now for change, and I will not be supporting Chuck to be reelected as the Democratic leader,” Sanders said.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who appeared with him, said she would not vote for any candidate who does not present a concrete plan to govern differently, including what Democrats would do in their first 100 days.

She said the standard applies to Schumer and to anyone who runs against him, and that she is not seeking the job herself.

“I’m a ‘no’ until and unless I see that from anyone,” Slotkin said.

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She suggested colleagues withhold a quorum for the leadership election if only one candidate runs without offering a plan.

Sanders said he and Slotkin had just left a caucus meeting where Schumer discussed how he would move forward, and that the answer was not as definitive as he wanted. He called for a contested race and said the candidates should debate on national television.

No senator has announced a challenge. Sanders said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) “has indicated some interest,” and Slotkin said she spoke with Van Hollen on Nov. 9.

Van Hollen said this week it is important for Democrats to consider their leadership and that he is in “active listening mode” and has not “closed the door” to challenging Schumer.

He wrote on social media on Nov. 10 that he will not support a government funding bill unless it defunds the war in Iran. He did not mention the leadership election in the post.

“The American people have spoken loud and clear: They want us to end Trump’s illegal and senseless war,” Van Hollen wrote. Current government funding runs out in mid-December.

In the fall of 2025, Schumer voted to keep the government open under a Republican funding bill, and progressive groups including MoveOn called for him to step down.

Schumer responded to the news of Sanders’s announcement at a separate news conference after a caucus lunch attended by 11 new senators-elect.

“I’m confident I will be elected majority leader,” he said, adding that the caucus is united on lowering costs, ending corruption, and ending the war in Iran.

Asked about Van Hollen, Schumer said the two are friends who talk frequently and are also united on ending the Iran conflict.

Three senators who stood beside Schumer backed him. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Schumer recruited candidates early, kept the caucus on one message, and raised $600 million. She said Democrats are about to gain nine Senate seats.

“This caucus is grateful for the hard work of Sen. Schumer,” Gillibrand said.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said he and Schumer have had their differences, pointed to the election results, and said it was time to unify. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said he was an early “yes.”

Sanders also said Schumer and Gillibrand deserve credit for their fundraising, along with others who campaigned across the country.

Several incoming senators did not commit to Schumer during their campaigns.

Senator-elect Adam Hamilton (D-Kan.) said repeatedly that he would not support keeping Schumer as leader, and Senator-elect Troy Jackson (D-Maine) was among the candidates who said they would not vote for him or remained noncommittal.

Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.) said on Nov. 9 that he would support Van Hollen. Sen.-elect Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said he is supporting Schumer, and Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan (D-Minn.) said she is not ready to commit.

Senate Democrats have not yet held their leadership election, which is decided by secret ballot and requires a majority of the caucus.

Jack Phillips and Jackson Richmond contributed to this report.