Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is struggling to maintain his political career after another tumultuous week for the Democratic Party.
Schumer’s latest political misstep has left Democrats more divided than ever. Last week, House Republicans passed their funding bill, endorsed by President Donald Trump, with nearly all Democrats voting against it. While House Democrats stood united in their opposition, the dynamics shifted when the bill reached the Senate.
“We have a lot of good people,” Schumer said on CBS Tuesday. “But I am the best at winning Senate seats.”
The Republican majority in the Senate required Democratic support to pass the continuing resolution (CR) and avoid a government shutdown. With the Friday deadline looming, Democrats faced a critical decision: back the Trump-endorsed CR or risk a shutdown. Initially, Schumer aligned with his House colleagues in supporting a shutdown. However, under mounting pressure, he reversed his stance and opted to advance the CR.
This decision ignited backlash within the Democratic Party, with figures like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) criticizing the move. Ultimately, 10 Senate Democrats joined 52 Republicans to advance the funding bill, averting a shutdown but leaving the party deeply fractured.
In the aftermath, the Democratic Party’s favorability plummeted to record lows, with many blaming Schumer. The negative fallout from the week’s events was so severe that Schumer postponed his highly anticipated book tour.
Despite the turmoil, Schumer sought to reassure Democrats of his leadership. “We have a lot of good people,” he reiterated on CBS. “But I am the best at winning Senate seats.”
Schumer continued his media tour, appearing on “The View” on Tuesday. When questioned about his leadership, he shifted blame to Trump. “I wake up at three in the morning sometimes so worried about the future of the country under these oligarchs!” Schumer said. “We are fighting them tooth and nail in every way that we can, but you’ve got to fight them smart.”
“I felt an obligation to stop it,” Schumer added.
