Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said late Wednesday morning that he would be selected as majority leader in the next Congress, despite opposition from some of the newly elected Democrats who will join the upper chamber come January.
During his press conference, the New York senator initially resisted questions from reporters about the inner workings of the Senate, including whether he would be open to getting rid of the filibuster.
The second time Schumer was asked about whether he’d be the one leading Senate Democrats next year, he caved and offered a more concrete response.
“OK, again, to repeat the answer, the issue is not me. I’ll be re-elected as majority leader. But the issue is focusing on the American people and what they want,” Schumer said.
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To become majority leader, Schumer would need the support of a simple majority of the Senate Democratic caucus.
No incumbent Democratic senator has publicly said they will oppose Schumer in the closed-door leadership vote, but five newly elected senators have. They are Adam Hamilton of Kansas; Julia Stratton of Illinois; Troy Jackson of Maine; Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota; and Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan.
James Talarico of Texas has not said whether he would support Schumer, largely steering clear of the party’s internal leadership debate ahead of his election victory.
Five confirmed votes against Schumer won’t be enough to tank his chances, and no one else has sought to challenge him for the leadership post.
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At Wednesday’s press event, Schumer wanted the focus to be on the Democrats — their overwhelming win and what they plan to do with it.
He described what happened last night as “a generational remake of the Senate map that is going to change America not only now, but on into the future.”
“Many of the folks who voted for us yesterday, of course, are still skeptical. That’s OK. These voters did not give us the majority so we can do whatever we want,” Schumer added. “They entrusted us with the majority to do what they, the American people, want. Republicans received that opportunity two years ago and completely squandered it.”
Schumer’s read of Americans’ mood is that they want the cost of living to be eased and government corruption to be dealt with.
Ending the Iran war, one of the main drivers of stubbornly elevated energy prices, was another priority the Democrats will pursue, Schumer said.
He also claimed that Republicans believed President Donald Trump’s victory in 2024 gave them a “mandate to do Trump’s self-serving bidding.”
Regarding Trump, Schumer said the Senate will launch investigations into him whenever he “defies the will of the American people or the law.”
“Elections have always been the strongest lever Americans have to counter a wannabe king, so long as Americans are willing to use it. Yesterday, America did,” Schumer said. “Americans have never lost faith that they can change this country with their vote. The onus is now on us to prove them right.”