Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday renewed her criticism of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, saying he gave up leverage in the recent government funding fight by advancing a Republican-backed spending bill.
Speaking at a San Francisco town hall, Pelosi did not mince words when discussing Schumer’s decision to help push the GOP’s funding measure forward.
“I myself don’t give away anything for nothing,” Pelosi told reporters when asked about Schumer’s handling of the negotiations. “I think that’s what happened the other day.” RELATED: Nationwide Poll Reveals Deep Dissatisfaction With Schumer Following GOP Spending Bill Vote
Pelosi’s comments reflect widespread frustration among congressional Democrats and the party’s grassroots base, many of whom view Schumer’s decision as a capitulation to Republicans.
Despite expressing confidence in Schumer’s leadership, Pelosi’s sharp critique adds to mounting pressure on the Senate Majority Leader.
A senior House Democrat, speaking anonymously to Axios, put Schumer’s standing in stark terms:
“His popularity is somewhere between Elon Musk and the Ebola virus.”
Many Democratic lawmakers and progressive activists have urged Schumer to take a more aggressive stance against the Republican-controlled Senate and to resist working with GOP lawmakers on government funding.
Former Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz criticized Schumer during a Tuesday podcast with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“Senate Democratic leadership gave up our leverage,” Walz said, echoing Pelosi’s frustration.
Pelosi had previously urged Schumer to “listen to the women” of the Democratic caucus, particularly Democratic appropriators, who proposed an alternative funding bill that was ultimately rejected by Republican leadership in both the House and Senate.
As dissatisfaction with Schumer grows, some Democrats have quietly encouraged New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) to launch a primary challenge against Schumer when he is up for reelection in 2028.
Ocasio-Cortez has not ruled out a potential Senate bid and has hinted that Schumer should retire at the end of his current term.
“Schumer has been in politics for a long time, and I would hope that this is his final term, and he opens it up for someone new,” Ocasio-Cortez said recently.
Despite the backlash, Schumer has stood by his decision, arguing that allowing a government shutdown would have been a worse outcome than backing the Republican funding bill. RELATED: AOC Slams Schumer Over Spending Bill Vote As Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman Fires Back
“The higher you climb, the more fiercely the winds blow,” Schumer told the Wall Street Journal on March 14. “The only thing that keeps you from being blown off the mountain is an internal gyroscope.”
Pelosi’s role in shaping Democratic Party strategy remains highly influential, even after stepping down as House Speaker. She reportedly played a key role in urging former President Joe Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race, signaling her continued behind-the-scenes power in party politics.
With Schumer facing intensifying criticism and progressives pushing for new leadership, the fallout from the spending bill fight could further reshape the Democratic Party’s direction ahead of the 2026 and 2028 elections.
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