Chuck Schumer has broad support from his caucus, but midterms could decide his future as leader
9 hours ago by FlashMobOfOne to c/progressivepolitics
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chuck Schumer has won and lost Senate majorities since becoming Democratic leader a decade ago. But this year’s midterm elections could be his most important yet, with some in the party having said he needs to step down and make way for a new generation.
Schumer, who has directly or indirectly overseen his party’s Senate campaign arm in almost every election cycle over the last 20 years, has regained trust within his caucus, for now, as Democrats are hopeful of making gains in the midterm elections despite a difficult map that favors Republicans.
Allies of the New York Democrat say it’s a significant turnaround from last year, when the party was still reeling from major election losses. A low point came in the spring of 2025, when the party’s base erupted at Schumer for voting to keep President Donald Trump’s government open.
While I absolutely hate Chuck, primarying him with a stronger leftist would be dangerous. New York as a state is more purple than people realize: Zeldin only lost the governor's race by 9 points, and the current race is shaping up to be even tighter.
I need him to die in office suddenly so that Hochul can appoint someone instead. Not that I trust her to pick a progressive, but it's the only way we can be sure a Dem replaces Chuck.
I really don’t agree. I think AOC stomping him in the primary would be incredible, and likely would have an excellent chance in the general.
My rationale is based on the fact that choosing between two bad options is what drives such low voter turnout across the country, and giving voters a legitimately good option can and will increase turnout. And moreover, giving voters a choice between “nothing will change” and “I’m gonna flip the table over” in a context where most people are deeply unhappy with the status quo is akin to trying to shoot someone with a gun while pointing it at oneself (and that’s the biggest single reason why Harris lost in 2024).
Also, Hochul is nearly as bad as Schumer, if we’re being honest
Agree to disagree. I think AOC would clean up in a primary, but she's not popular outside of her party or outside of the city. Like I said, current polling has Hochul and Blakeman practically neck-and-neck.
Between Long Island, the Southern Tier, and the North Country, damn near half the state is conservative. While the city is getting better under Mamdani, the yokels up here are railing against sharia law and screaming that solar panels are destroying arable farmland. The legislature repealed the state's climate goals this year, and shitheads like Gendebien are normalizing transphobia in the Democratic party to court votes.
And Zeldin and Blakeman are excellent examples with regards to voter turnout: the reason Republicans underperform in statewide races in New York is because a lot of Republicans assume they're going to lose and stay home. When Zeldin actually gained some traction, more conservatives started going to the polls. His primary had the highest voter turnout in a New York Republican primary in twenty years. In the general, half a million more voters came out for Zeldin than they did for Molinaro in 2018.
But, yes, agreed that Hochul is nearly as bad as Schumer.
Can someone help me understand why this is? Is there any legitimate reason why this dumbass, spineless motherfucker should be enjoying broad support?
It seems to me we've just sat through two years where Donald has gotten everything he wanted almost without fail, and the only real checks we've seen on his power came from the judiciary. In fact, Democrats have failed so spectacularly that there are around two dozen DSA candidates who have a legitimate chance to get elected nationally.
He's being propped up from both sides. Businesses and AIPAC love Chucky because they know where his loyalties lie. He's incredibly out of touch and is in no danger of coming back to reality anytime soon and I can't wait to never hear his name again.
Like Mark Twain, some obituaries I read with great joy.
Ugh. Yeah. You're right about that.
@lemmy.world
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@lemmy.world
Welcome to Progressive Politics! A place for news updates and political discussion from a left perspective. Conservatives and centrists are welcome just try and keep it civil :)
(Sidebar still a work in progress post recommendations if you have them such as reading lists)
go to feed...
I hope he gets primaried and absolutely stomped in 2028.
I really wish the Senate Democratic caucus would kick him to the curb, but they probably won’t.
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