What's Happening To Schumer?

Chuck Schumer has been leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus from 2017 to present, serving alongside Nancy Pelosi in the House, who had been either House Minority Leader or Speaker from 2003 to her retirement from leadership in 2023. Despite their relative success, Democrats seem anxious to replace them and what they represent. Both Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are seen as too moderate. As of Monday,

A petition calling on House Democrats not to support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as the next speaker has passed 1 million signatures, according to its creator.

. . . The petition, which labels Jeffries as part of the “Democratic establishment,” suggests Democratic leaders are likely to remain under pressure from their party’s left wing over both personal and policy choices. It was created by Nicole Whitted, an author and Democratic supporting social media creator with over 210,000 followers on TikTok.

. . . It argues that “Hakeem Jeffries is simply not the right choice” for Speaker, adding: “We believe the Speaker should represent the Democratic voters, not just the Democratic establishment.”

The petition urges “every member of the incoming 120th Congress to vote against Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker in January 2027 and choose a different candidate” and suggests other House Democrats put themselves forward.

A good part of the objection to Jeffries appears to be that he's too close to the Jews:

“Hakeem Jeffries has longstanding political and financial ties to corporate interests and influential pro-Israel lobbying organizations. He also held a private meeting with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and outside advisor, who himself is being investigated by the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. These relationships and decisions raise serious questions for me and many of those who have signed this petition about transparency, political influence, and whose interests Democratic leadership is ultimately serving.”

A major problem for those who want to replace Jeffries is that not many names have come up -- and of the few that have, Jamie Raskin is Jewish and represents heavily Jewish Maryland suburbs. He's aiming at becoming Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee next year in any case.

Schumer is Jewish as well, but public statements opposing his election as majority leader don't stress this, altnough they do stress his support for Israel:

One key difference between the 75-year-old Schumer and the new cohort of Democratic lawmakers is his position on Israel. Schumer is a longtime supporter of military aid to Israel and has manoeuvred to stop bills in Congress that would condition military assistance.

, , , Schumer is Jewish-American and has received support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac). But recent polling shows that he is out of step with the majority of Jewish voters in the US, who lean heavily Democratic.

. . . A supermajority of Jewish Americans think Israel and Aipac’s actions are increasing antisemitism in the US, a poll commissioned by J Street and published this week found.

But unlike in the House, at least one name has emerged to replace Schumer:

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who has been recently discussed as a possible Senate majority leader for his party in the upcoming Congress, said Monday he is “in listening mode” on taking up the role.

“What I’ve said from the very beginning is, we shouldn’t have a coronation. We should have a caucus discussion about what we’re going to do with the power and responsibilities that have been invested in us,” Van Hollen told reporters Monday.

“And until then, I think that nobody should be making any commitments. But, in response to people calling upon me to step up here, what I’ve said on it is: ‘I’m in listening mode and haven’t shut the door,’” the Maryland senator added.

Last week, Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.) reupped his push for Van Hollen to become Senate majority leader instead of current Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

A number of senators, including many of those newly elected, have said they won't support Schumer.

Sanders announced his decision at a news conference with Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) shortly after Democrats huddled in their first full caucus meeting since returning to Washington following sweeping midterm election victories.

. . . Slotkin added she is also a “no” on any candidate until they can articulate a plan outlining Democrats’ priorities in the first 100 days in the new Congress.

. . . Neither senator has identified who they might support instead, though both acknowledged that Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is one name in consideration.

“We had a productive conversation,” Slotkin said of her Monday meeting with Van Hollen. “At the same time, I have the same feeling about anyone who runs as I do about Sen. Schumer. I want to see what that plan is. I want to see how it represents newer members. I will require that for anyone.”

I think there may be too much willingness to assume the electoral war has been won on the Democrat side. If, for instance, they want to "end the war" in Iran, Trump is likely to answer that the war has already been won.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday at a G7 meeting in Paris there was "no need for major combat operations" in Iran because the economic pressure campaign was working well.

Trump is highly resilient. He's already outlasted Nancy Pelosi, who seems to have been his most effective opponent, although Schumer has credibly claimed credit for the midterm Senate victory. Neither Jeffries nor a potential Schumer replacement may be experienced and resourceful enough to beat Trump.