Reps. Ro Khanna (D-IL) and other progressives are fed up with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) after a group of senators, which did not include the Democrats’ Senate leader, voted with Republicans toward ending the government shutdown.
Progressives like Khanna believe Schumer should be replaced as Senate Minority Leader.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?” Khanna wrote on X.
“If you’re not willing to fight to stop premium hikes on 20 million Americans, then what are you willing to fight for?” he said in a separate social media post. “The Democratic Party needs to be strong. We need to stand up for the health care of ordinary Americans.”
Khanna added that he believes “donors” and the “establishment” won’t “like” him speaking out, but he’s confident his social media following will back him.
Khanna’s discontent comes after the Senate voted 60-40 to overcome the first procedural hurdle on the way to opening the government. The deal reached, which prompted eight Senate Democrats to vote with Republicans, included a December vote on the Obamacare healthcare subsidies that Democrats had called for, as well as a pledge to reverse thousands of planned layoffs announced by the White House since October 1.
The deal did not guarantee that any of the healthcare subsidies would pass. The House will still have to vote on it, though some Republicans had signaled their support for the tax credits during the shutdown.
SNAP benefits running out and the prospect of renewed healthcare subsidies ultimately forced Democrats’ hands on the shutdown.
“I again voted to re-open the government, resume vital services for Maine people, put people back to work, feed the hungry and secure an opportunity to avoid a harmful hike in health care costs,” King wrote on X.
Other progressives also expressed their unhappiness with the concession publicly.
“The average monthly SNAP benefit is $177 a person,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) wrote on X. “The average ACA benefit is up to $550 a person/mo. People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.”
“Working people want leaders whose word means something,” she added.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) had more pointed words for Schumer, daring Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) to vote against the New York senator.
“Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership. If @ChuckSchumer were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare. Maybe now @EdMarkey will finally join me in pledging not to vote for Schumer?”
Democrats have been discontent with Schumer long before the government shutdown fueled the fire.
Earlier this year, Schumer withstood calls to step down after he supported a Republican spending bill that he called “certainly bad.” Multiple House Democrats, including Reps. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) and Delia Ramirez (D-IL), had suggested he should step down.
“I respect Chuck Schumer. I think he had a great, long-standing career,” Ivey said then, “But I’m afraid that it may be time for the Senate Democrats to get a new leader.”
Schumer said he supported the bill to avoid the “horror” of a government shutdown, which Democrats are now enduring.
In early 2018, Schumer faced more intra-party strife. Some Democrats, and President Donald Trump, accused him of “caving” to the pressure of the government shutdown, and without the immigration concessions that they wanted then.
“Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown. Now I want a big win for everyone, including Republicans, Democrats and DACA, but especially for our Great Military and Border Security. Should be able to get there. See you at the negotiating table!” Trump posted on X in 2018.
WHAT DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID ABOUT VOTING TO END THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Republicans dialed up the pressure on Schumer last month, labeling the government shutdown as the “Schumer shutdown.” As the days wore on, Schumer managed to keep Democrats away from compromise until Sunday.
And now, Democrats are hoping it’s his last shutdown as Senate Minority Leader. “Chuck Schumer has failed us,” Democratic Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls, who is running for Sen. Joni Ernst’s seat, wrote on X.