Sen. Bernie Sanders is joining the revolt against Chuck Schumer, refusing to back the longtime Democratic leader’s return to the Senate’s top job despite the party’s midterm victories.
The Vermont independent, who caucuses with Democrats, told reporters Tuesday that Schumer would not have his support for majority leader in the next Congress.
Asked by The Washington Times’ Lindsey McPherson whether he would oppose Schumer even if the New York Democrat ran unopposed, Sanders suggested a challenger was coming.
“He’s not going to run unopposed, I don’t think.”
Schumer still has no declared opponent. But Sanders’ rejection adds a prominent voice to the push for a leadership shakeup as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress in January.
Several incoming senators have called for new leadership, while other Democrats have withheld their support for Schumer. Those positions do not all amount to firm votes against him.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., has emerged as a potential challenger, though he had not formally entered the race as of Tuesday.
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The Maryland Democrat is also pushing his party toward a funding showdown with President Donald Trump over the war in Iran.
Van Hollen insisted Tuesday that the U.S. should not spend “a penny more” on the conflict, urging Democrats to use the approaching government funding deadline to cut off money for the war.
His position raises the prospect of a shutdown fight if Trump and congressional Democrats refuse to budge.
Van Hollen drew national attention last year when he traveled to El Salvador to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongly deported by the Trump administration and held at the country’s CECOT prison.
The pressure on Schumer extends beyond the Senate. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has also declined to endorse him, though she has no vote in the Senate’s leadership election.
Schumer retains support within his caucus and has expressed confidence that he will become majority leader again.
Senate Democrats are expected to choose their leaders in December, leaving his critics weeks to rally behind an alternative before ballots are cast.
