Sen. Bernie Sanders said Tuesday that he will not back Sen. Chuck Schumer for another term as Democratic majority leader, opening a major leadership battle just days after Democrats swept to power in the midterm elections.
Speaking at a Capitol news conference alongside Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Sanders called for a new generation of Democratic leaders. The two senators said the party should engage in a serious debate over its priorities, direction and future.
Several incoming Democratic senators have also signaled that they could support an alternative to Schumer, intensifying the challenge to his leadership.
“The time is now for change,” said Sanders, the Vermont independent widely viewed as the driving force behind modern American progressivism. “And I will not be supporting Chuck to be reelected as the Democratic leader.”
Slotkin said she is not pursuing the leadership post herself but wants every potential candidate to present a detailed agenda for the incoming Senate majority.
“I’m a no until and unless I see that from anyone,” Slotkin said.
The challenge to Schumer has grown as Democrats won Republican-held Senate seats well beyond the races initially considered competitive, including contests in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina.
Schumer helped recruit several prominent candidates who contributed to the Democratic victory, among them Sen.-elect Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Sen.-elect Roy Cooper in North Carolina.
However, candidates he backed also lost Democratic primaries in Michigan and Maine. Progressive contenders won those nominations and went on to capture both seats in the general election.
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Progressives rally behind Maryland’s Chris Van Hollen
Progressive Democrats have been flooding congressional offices with calls for a change at the top. Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed and other members of the party’s left flank have promoted Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland as a possible challenger.
Van Hollen, who has previously said he is considering a 2028 presidential campaign, is now weighing a bid to lead Senate Democrats as well. It remains unclear how much support he could attract.
“I am in the process right now of calling my colleagues,” Van Hollen said at a Washington event Tuesday.
At 75, Schumer has given little indication that he plans to step aside, particularly after leading Democrats to control of the Senate.
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, offered Schumer a strong defense Tuesday, saying, “this caucus is grateful for the work of Senator Schumer.”
“I’m confident I will be elected,” Schumer said at the Capitol.
In an interview with The Associated Press shortly after Democrats secured their election victories, Schumer was asked about his future and said his attention was fixed on the coming year.
“The focus has got to be on getting things done,” he told the AP.
Republican senators met privately Tuesday to select their leaders for the next Congress, while Senate Democrats were only beginning their discussions ahead of leadership elections expected later this month.
