Rift grows among Senate Democrats over who will lead in majority

WASHINGTON — More Democrats emerged Tuesday wanting someone besides Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., to lead their conference in the majority.

But Schumer maintained confidence he would be reelected to the post despite Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., publicly calling for a different leader or a “concrete plan” that provides change.

“I’m confident I will be elected majority leader, and our caucus is really united in focusing on bringing down costs, on ending the corruption, on ending the chaos, on ending the war,” Schumer told reporters Tuesday. “We have great unity in our caucus, and I’ll be proud to lead it.”

Sanders said during a news conference Tuesday the election was about “change and the need for the Democratic Party to move in a new and bold direction.”

“I personally have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years, and I like Chuck. Nobody 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,” Sanders said, calling for an “economy that works for all, not just the people on top.”

“Do I think Chuck has been leading in that direction?” he asked. “No.”

Some incoming members and now incumbents have pointed to Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen as one possibility to challenge Schumer. Van Hollen had previously thrown cold water on the idea by saying he was instead “kicking the tires” on a presidential run in 2028 but has recently changed his tune.

A person familiar with Van Hollen’s thinking said he “has received an outpouring of calls on running for majority leader and is now in active listening mode.”

Slotkin did not endorse anyone for leader but said she had a “really productive conversation” with Van Hollen yesterday.

“Whoever wants my vote is going to have to show me a concrete plan that’s definitely different. I’m a ‘no’ until and unless I see that from anyone,” she said, urging her peers to “withhold quorum” when Senate Democrats hold their leadership elections “until you get that plan and you feel like you have a voice in that plan.”

She urged not just a road map for the first 100 days, but ideas for how to “communicate differently.” As for her own future, she said, “I am not actively seeking this job. I’m seeking change.”

Asked about his plans Monday evening, Van Hollen said, “It’s not about me, but I am listening to the thousands of people who have been calling for change, but especially listening to our members, with a particular ear to new members who have just come off the campaign trail.”

“What I’ve said from the very beginning is, we shouldn’t have a coronation. We should have a caucus discussion about what we’re going to do with the power and responsibilities that have been invested in us,” Van Hollen said. “I’m in listening mode and haven’t shut the door.”

Van Hollen took it a step further at an event Tuesday in Washington, D.C., criticizing the minority leader and Democrats’ campaign arm over their preferences in some primaries. “Schumer and the DSCC sided with the crypto industry and AIPAC against these candidates,” he said, according to a livestream of the event.

Schumer tried to tamp down the suggestion of a rivalry. “We talk frequently, and we’re united — united in lowering costs, and united in ending this damn war,” he said of Van Hollen.

Others threw their support behind Schumer ahead of the Democratic leadership elections, which are expected to take place in December.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., praised Schumer for raising money and recruiting candidates like Sens.-elect Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Roy Cooper of North Carolina to help land at minimum seven seats, and potentially nine if Alaska and Mississippi ultimately swing their way.

“That takes vision. It takes clarity of thought. It takes strategic leadership, and that is what Sen. Schumer has done. And that is why you will see, despite all grumblings, enormous gratitude,” she said.

Gillibrand pointed to candidates like Scott Colom, the Democrat in Mississippi who is currently leading GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in a nail-biter of a race. “That wave doesn’t get created by magic. It gets created by hard work and putting the pieces together over years,” she said.

Colom, however, has been noncommittal, telling MS NOW, “Too many of our leaders are from the same areas of the country,” pointing to the Brooklyn roots of both Schumer and current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to run for speaker on the House side.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said he and Schumer have had their differences. But he implied he backs him for majority leader: “At the end of the day, these are historic numbers. It’s time for us to unify. We are going to work together as a caucus to plan together about how to move forward for what the country wants us to do, and I think we have the person who I think is going to lead us there.”

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said Democrats have “an opportunity to do things differently, and I think we will, regardless of who the leader is. It doesn’t really matter whose name is on the door.”

“Yes,” he said of his support for Schumer, noting that so far, nobody has officially stepped up to the plate. “This is a guy that worked incredibly hard over the last couple of years. I know people have other opinions about this. But we have a mandate to do things and get things done for the American people.”

“And we can do that with Chuck Schumer.”

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(Mark Schoeff Jr., Paul M. Krawzak and Kelly Livingston contributed to this report.)

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