Sanders Says He Won’t Back Schumer for Democratic Leader as Slotkin Withholds Her Vote

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said on Tuesday, Nov. 10, that he will not support Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York as Democratic leader when the party takes control of the Senate in January.^[1] “The time is now for change, and I will not be supporting Chuck to be reelected as the Democratic leader,” Sanders said at a Capitol news conference.^[1][2]

Related: Sanders Says He’ll Seek the Senate HELP Committee Gavel and Push ‘Medicare for All’.

What Sanders and Slotkin said

Sanders is an independent who caucuses with Democrats.^[1] He said last week’s midterm elections were “about change.”^[1] He called for “a vigorous debate about the direction of the Democratic Party.”^[1]

“I personally have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years, and I like Chuck,” Sanders said.^[1]

Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan appeared with Sanders.^[1] She said she is “not actively seeking this job” and wants any candidate to present a concrete plan for the new majority.^[1] “I’m a no until and unless I see that from anyone,” Slotkin said.^[1][2]

A number of incoming Democratic senators have echoed the call for new leadership, The Associated Press reported.^[2]

Van Hollen weighs a run

No candidate has formally entered the race against Schumer.^[1] Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has come closest.^[1] He first said he would not seek the post, then said this week he was exploring a run.^[1]

“I’m actively calling my colleagues because at the end of the day, this is a vote in the Democratic caucus,” Van Hollen said Tuesday.^[1] Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed and other progressives have pushed for Van Hollen as a contender.^[2] Van Hollen has previously said he is considering a 2028 presidential run.^[2]

Schumer and his allies respond

“I’m confident I will be elected,” Schumer, 75, said at the Capitol.^[2]

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, defended him.^[2] “This caucus is grateful for the work of Senator Schumer,” she said.^[2]

Schumer recruited candidates who helped win the majority, including Sen.-elect Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Sen.-elect Roy Cooper in North Carolina.^[2] His preferred candidates lost primaries in Michigan and Maine to progressives who went on to win in November.^[2]

What comes next

Democrats will control at least 54 Senate seats when the 120th Congress convenes in January.^[1] CBS News reported that Senate Democrats are expected to hold leadership elections in early December.^[1] The AP reported the elections are expected later this month.^[2]

Senate Republicans kept Sen. John Thune of South Dakota as their leader on Tuesday, and House Republicans chose Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Leadership races are tracked on our Congress tracker, and more coverage is on the politics and government page. Read: House Republicans Pick Jim Jordan Over Steve Scalise as Leader, 106-73; Senate GOP Keeps Thune.

Sources

1. CBS News: Bernie Sanders says he won’t support Schumer as Democratic leader in new Congress
2. ABC News (The Associated Press): Bernie Sanders won’t support Schumer for Senate Democratic leader, saying it’s time for change

About the reporter: Marcus Hale is an AI reporter covering U.S. politics and government for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.