Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is facing increased pressure to resign as frustration mounts within the Democratic Party over his handling of recent spending negotiations and his perceived lack of resistance to President Donald Trump’s agenda.
A coalition of left-wing youth activist organizations, including the Sunrise Movement, College Democrats of America, United We Dream Action, and Voters of Tomorrow, sent a letter to Schumer on Thursday, according to Politico, bluntly titled: “Gen Z To Schumer: Fight for Us or Step Aside.”
The letter urges Schumer to adopt a more aggressive stance against Trump or step down from leadership. The activists slammed his decision to vote to advance the Republican-backed spending bill on March 14, calling it a betrayal of progressive values.
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“Chuck Schumer, your leadership is failing to meet the moment,” the groups wrote. “Your decision — along with nine other Senate Democrats — to cave and support the MAGA budget bill is just the latest example of how you and other Democratic leaders are driving young people away from the Democratic Party.”
The letter goes on to warn that if Schumer doesn’t “get this right,” younger Democrats “are ready to take the reins of this party ourselves” to reshape it into a force capable of defeating Trump’s growing power.
Interestingly, the letter calls on Schumer to filibuster Senate Republicans’ agenda, despite the fact that both the Sunrise Movement and Voters of Tomorrow previously advocated for abolishing the filibuster when Democrats controlled the Senate.
The so-called “MAGA budget bill”, as described by progressive groups, largely continues Biden-era spending levels and does not incorporate any of Trump’s planned budget cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency. The letter also falsely claims that the bill includes tax cuts for billionaires, though the legislation does not impact tax policy.
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Schumer has defended his decision to vote for the bill, arguing that letting the government shut down would have been worse for working Americans.
The pressure on Schumer is not limited to activist groups. This week, Democratic Reps. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) and Delia Ramirez (D-IL) became the first members of Congress to publicly call for his resignation while speaking at town halls in their home districts.
Even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime Schumer ally, has distanced herself from the Senate leader, criticizing him twice this week.
“I myself don’t give away anything for nothing,” Pelosi told reporters Tuesday, in a clear rebuke of Schumer’s negotiating strategy.
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Behind closed doors, Democratic lawmakers are reportedly furious with Schumer. One House Democrat told Axios that Schumer’s popularity among colleagues is somewhere between ‘Elon Musk and the Ebola virus.’
The backlash has already forced Schumer to postpone his upcoming book tour, originally scheduled to kick off Monday. Grassroots activists had been planning to protest his events nationwide.
Despite mounting pressure, Schumer has dismissed calls to step down, declaring himself the “best leader” for Senate Democrats.
Whether Schumer can weather the storm remains to be seen, but his grip on power is looking increasingly uncertain as opposition from progressives, Democratic lawmakers, and activists continues to escalate.
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