Democrats are beside themselves with anger at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) after their shutdown stunt blew up in their faces. The backlash has gotten so intense that many on the left are now demanding his resignation. Ever since eight Democrats broke ranks to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history, Schumer’s own allies have been tearing into him for botching the entire operation.
At least ten House Democrats have already gone public calling for Schumer to step down as Senate minority leader — a remarkable level of open revolt inside a party that once treated him like an untouchable.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) said Schumer “has failed to meet this moment and is out of touch with the American people. The Democratic Party needs leaders who fight and deliver for working people. Schumer should step down.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said Schumer “is no longer effective and should be replaced.”
“If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?” he added.
Moderates like Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) also chimed in, saying that this loss “is another example of why we need new leadership.”
Reps. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) also said in interviews with Axios that Schumer should call it a career.
And it’s not just Democratic lawmakers who want Schumer gone. The progressive activist group MoveOn Political Action says a whopping 80 percent of its members want him shown the door as well.
“With Donald Trump and the Republican Party doubling health care premiums, weaponizing our military against us, and ripping food away from children, MoveOn members cannot accept weak leadership at the helm of the Democratic Party,” said MoveOn Executive Director Katie Bethell.
A Siena College poll from August showed Schumer is about as popular as a bad case of hemorrhoids. Only 38 percent of New York voters viewed him favorably, while 50 percent viewed him unfavorably. Even among Democrats, roughly half had an unfavorable opinion of him — a brutal sign for someone who’s supposed to be the party’s Senate leader.
It’s not yet clear whether Senate Democrats will move to oust Schumer, but journalist Ken Klippenstein reports that Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) is eyeing the job if it opens up.
One thing is certain: Democrats walked away from this shutdown fiasco in worse shape than they entered it — and Schumer may end up paying the price.