They are preparing for a fight.
Members of the Democratic Socialists of America are seeking to capitalize on the party’s growing influence after the blue wave by targeting two of its most powerful figures: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), The Post has learned.
On a private online discussion board, DSA members described a national campaign to flood lawmakers with thousands of letters and phone calls while building public opposition to the two establishment Democrats.
The effort comes despite both Schumer and Jeffries having supported DSA-backed candidates. Jeffries endorsed Mayor Zohran Mamdani last year, while Schumer spoke at a 2023 reelection fundraiser for City Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán in Astoria, where attendees were served $14 cocktails with names such as “The Spirited Socialist.”
One participant in the private discussion said he had already called three representatives during his morning commute to urge them not to support Schumer or Jeffries.
“Both of these men are corporate shills who have enthusiastically cheered on a genocide. If we do nothing, what were these wins even for?” wrote Syjil Ashraf, a leader of the DSA’s International Committee, during a discussion about the midterm results.
“Both are openly hostile to our goals and our organization,” added another member from the DSA’s Richmond chapter.
The group’s longer-term objective is to remove both lawmakers from Congress in 2028 and replace them with socialists, even if efforts to strip them of their party leadership positions fall short in the meantime.
Schumer could become Senate majority leader in January after Democrats won control of the chamber, provided he retains the support of his caucus. Jeffries, currently the House minority leader, could become speaker if Democrats reelect him as their leader.
“He’s sitting in a congressional seat that should belong to DSA,” a member of the New Orleans chapter said of Jeffries. “His national profile is in part keeping that from happening. Strip him of his leadership position first. Take his seat next.”
“People are angry and out for blood, and I don’t feel they’re ready to go back to ‘brunch,’” another DSA member said during a debate that began last week over whether to oust the two leaders.
Jeffries, who has been backed by progressive figures including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep.-elect Brad Lander (D-NY), New York Attorney General Letitia James and Mamdani, is expected to become the first Black speaker of the House in January.
James has also cautioned what she called “drunk on power” socialists against targeting Jeffries.
Schumer faces a more immediate challenge. At least 10 prominent senators and senators-elect — including Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) — have said they will oppose him, while Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) launched a challenge Thursday.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to Urge MPs to Back Welfare Cuts
The national DSA began its “Say No to Schumer” social media campaign that same day, adopting Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” as its soundtrack. The group argued that “Good Luck Chuck” had failed to deliver for working-class voters and said the campaign had generated more than 6,000 letters to members of Congress.
The strategy also calls for pressure on the eight DSA-affiliated elected officials to reject both lawmakers outright. If they decline to vote against Schumer and Jeffries, members want them to demand concessions in exchange for their support, with one participant saying the officials should have the “Sword of Damocles” hanging over them.
“If our DSA electeds can’t oppose these two ultra-Zionists, I don’t see how they can meaningfully be seen to be upholding DSA politics in the slightest,” said a New Jersey member of the DSA’s National Abolition Working Group. “Schumer is clearly extremely unpopular across a progressive-to-socialist spectrum, and he should absolutely be vigorously opposed.”
“Jeffries is such an odious figure and one of our primary enemies in Congress,” another member said, describing the prospect of him becoming speaker as “nauseating.”
Another participant offered a different view, calling Jeffries a weak leader with little influence over how fellow Democrats vote and arguing that he has struggled to articulate a broader vision for the party.
“His weakness represents the weakness of the Democratic establishment and Democratic Party’s capitalists. That’s good for us. Let him lead while constantly messaging about how he’s incapable of leading,” the member said.
A DSA member also said she was being paid by the progressive Sunrise Movement to travel to Washington and protest outside Schumer’s office.
“Sunrise is literally paying people to fly out to DC to fight against Schumer. I’m sending this from my layover in Denver,” the Los Angeles chapter member said Tuesday.
Videos posted by the organization on Instagram show protesters wearing keffiyehs blockading Schumer’s office, holding signs and chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, Chuck Schumer has got to go!” Dozens were later arrested by US Capitol Police, in scenes the videos presented as a spontaneous demonstration.
“Today, 50+ young people were arrested in Chuck Schumer’s office demanding new Senate leadership. Momentum is building,” Sunrise Movement said in a caption.
Schumer and Jeffries declined to comment.
However, a source familiar with the matter said James had already warned the DSA to stop targeting New York’s congressional leaders.
“The ball is in their court now,” the source told The Post.
