Democrats Call on Schumer to Resign Leadership Post for Shutdown Failures

A growing number of Democrats are calling on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to step down as leader after some Senate Democrats defected by voting to advance a measure that could ultimately end the government shutdown.

“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Rep. Ro Khanna. D-Calif., wrote on X. “If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?”

The government shutdown began on Oct. 1 because Democrats repeatedly withheld support for measures that would have funded the government over demands to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies. Senate Republicans signaled their openness to debate and vote on the Obamacare subsidies, but only when the government was open.

The deal that is poised to break the shutdown impasse was a win for Senate Republicans. While the deal guarantees a future vote to extend the Obamacare enhanced subsidies, which were passed during the Biden administration under the understanding that they would eventually expire, that vote will be separate from the measure to reopen the government. Now some Democrats are criticizing Schumer for failing to ensure that the subsidies will be extended in exchange for reopening the government or extract other major concessions.

Democrat Candidates for Senate Turn on Schumer’s Leadership

Democrat Senate candidates are turning Schumer’s failure into a campaign issue, attacking the New York senator for failing to keep his conference united—despite the current shutdown being the longest in American history.

“Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership. If [Schumer] were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare.” Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., added in a comment on social media. Moulton is currently running to oust longtime Democrat Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.

“Chuck Schumer is not built for this moment,” Graham Platner posted on X. Graham is another Democrat running against the establishment candidate for the Democrat nomination for Maine’s 2026 Senate general election.

Democrat Governors and Leaders Speak Out

Democrat leaders with political momentum on the state level condemned the capitulation.

“Tonight’s Senate vote on the federal government shutdown should have been a time for strength. Instead we saw capitulation and a betrayal of working Americans. The American people need more from their leaders,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a 2028 presidential contender, critiqued on social media.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, another name floated for 2028 based on his reputation for fighting the Trump administration, expressed his frustration. “This is not a deal—it’s an empty promise. Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families. Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare,” Pritzker stated on X.

“Ending the shutdown shouldn’t come at the expense of health care for tens of millions of Americans. This deal paves the way for devastating premium hikes that will drive up costs for New Yorkers. Count me out,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stated on X.

Even New York City’s future mayor Zohran Mamdani weighed in writing, “This ‘deal’ dramatically hikes healthcare premiums and only exacerbates the affordability crisis. It should be rejected, as should any politics willing to compromise on the basic needs of working people.”

Who Still Has Schumer’s Back?

Some, however, are continuing to back Schumer.

“Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats over the last seven weeks, have waged a valiant fight on behalf of the American people, and I’m not going to explain what a handful of Senate Democrats have decided to do, that’s their explanation,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said a House press conference on Monday, reaffirming his support for his Senate counterpart.

When asked specifically about the Senate Democrats who broke party ranks to overcome the first procedural hurdle to reopen the government, Jeffries replied, “I don’t have much to say about those individuals, and they’re going to have to explain themselves to their constituents and to the American people.”

Schumer and the Democrat senators who voted to overcome the procedural hurdle for their part defended their decision by emphasizing what they viewed as the wins in the potential bill. 

“This legislation will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay as required by a law I got passed in 2019,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., posted on X.

“We will keep fighting,” Schumer promised on X.

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