Sanders declines to back Schumer’s bid for Senate leadership

“I personally have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years, and I like Chuck. Nobody who works harder than Chuck Schumer. But in my view, the time is now for change, and I will not be supporting Chuck to be re-elected as the Democratic leader,” Sanders stated to reporters on Capitol Hill.

The 85-year-old senator, who caucuses with the Democrats as an independent, attributed his decision to the results of the recent midterm elections, suggesting a widespread desire for new leadership. He emphasized the need for the Democratic party to adopt a “new and bold direction.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, speaking at a post-election conference in Washington convened by Groundwork Collaborative, echoed the sentiment of change among voters. He questioned whether the Senate Democratic caucus was adequately responding to these calls and suggested the upcoming vote should not be a formality.

While Van Hollen did not explicitly call for Schumer’s removal, he advocated for a more democratic process within the caucus. Several incoming Democratic senators, including Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Annie Andrews of South Carolina, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, Troy Jackson of Maine, and Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota, have also expressed a desire for new leadership.

El-Sayed notably defeated a candidate endorsed by Schumer in the party’s primary.

Despite the growing calls for change, Schumer has expressed confidence in his re-election. Last week, he asserted, “I’ll be re-elected as majority leader,” a statement he repeated on Tuesday, emphasizing the caucus’s unity in addressing issues like lowering costs and combating corruption.

Sanders indicated a preference for a “process” involving “vigorous debate” to select the new leader.