Democrats Split Over Schumer Leadership Bid
Some Democratic senators question Chuck Schumer’s leadership as party faces internal division.
1 min read
Following the midterm elections, which flipped control of both chambers of Congress, some Democratic lawmakers have signaled they may not support Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for the role of Senate Majority Leader. The shift in power has prompted the Democrats to elect new leadership for the 120th United States Congress.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a self-described democratic socialist, announced he would not be backing Schumer (D-N.Y.) for the leadership position. “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 reelected as the Democratic leader,” he said.
🇺🇸 Bernie Sanders just told Chuck Schumer it's time to GO. “I like Chuck. Nobody works harder than Chuck Schumer.” But he won't support him for another term as Senate Democratic leader. Democrats just won back the Senate, and Sanders thinks they need someone new running it.… https://t.co/oL2jr8lAEl
Speaking at the conference alongside Sanders, Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) voiced her desire for “something different” for the Democrat party. “That’s why we’re here today, and interested, again across ideological lines, in something different for the Democratic caucus,” she stated.
Both Democrats called for a “serious debate” about the “future [and] the direction of the Democratic Party.” Sanders said that Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) had been floated as a possible candidate, though he noted that “there may be others.” Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.) also confirmed during an interview on “CNN News Central” last week that he believed Van Hollen would make an “amazing Senate majority leader.”
Source: OANN
