At Least Seven Incoming Democratic Senators Won't Commit to Backing Schumer as Leader, Setting Up an Early Senate Leadership Fight
Washington — Less than two days after Democrats won back the Senate majority, the party's leadership fight is already in the open: at least seven newly elected Democratic senators have publicly declined to commit to — or outright refused — backing Chuck Schumer to remain leader in next month's caucus leadership vote.
The seven are: Juliana Stratton of Illinois, whose spokesperson said she will not support Schumer; Adam Hamilton of Kansas, who said flatly, "I'm not supporting Schumer"; Troy Jackson of Maine, who said he told Schumer he would support somebody else; Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who reiterated on CNN on Thursday that he backs Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen for leader and said he would set an "extremely high bar" for confirming Trump nominees; Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota, who said it is time for new leadership; Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, who said voters are hungry for a new generation of leadership; and James Talarico of Texas, who said he first wants to hear Schumer's vision for the Senate.
Schumer, 75, said on Wednesday: "I'll be reelected as majority leader." He needs only a simple majority of a Democratic caucus projected at 54 to 56 members, and allies such as Senator Cory Booker credit him with leading one of the most historic sweeps in party history. But Van Hollen told Bloomberg that Democrats should not commit to anyone without a commitment to a "bold agenda" first; Van Hollen himself reportedly does not intend to run. The progressive group Indivisible is urging voters to demand a contested leadership election rather than a cleared field.
The discontent traces to Schumer's retreat in last year's government-shutdown standoff — which California Governor Gavin Newsom called a capitulation — his failure to block several Trump cabinet nominees, and his stance on aid to Israel. Senate Democrats choose their leader by secret caucus ballot next month, by simple majority.
Related: Schumer: Democrats Will End the Iran War and Use Spending and Oversight Powers to Check Trump
(Source: Al Jazeera)
Source: Al Jazeera
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国参议院民主党领袖舒默官方肖像。公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Official portrait of U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
