Scoop: Schumer eyes new leadership job for Cory Booker
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Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is expected to become the number three ranking Democrat in the Senate, and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) — who wanted that position — will notch a leadership position just under her, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will shuffle his leadership roster to give both lawmakers top leaderships gigs, avoiding a clash between two ambitious and well-liked members of his caucus.
- The #3 position is open because Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is retiring. She was the chair of the policy and communications committee.
- Klobuchar — currently the #4 Senate Democrat — is expected to become the #3 Democrat.
- Booker is expected to serve in the #4 ranking role, in a broader leadership shuffle by Schumer. The number four role used to be the chair of the steering committee, but Booker will take on a new position above that. His exact role is unclear.
The big picture: The compromise is textbook Schumer, who likes to find solutions that will keep competing members or factions of his caucus content. Semafor reported Monday morning that he might try to avoid a contested race for #3.
- Schumer made a similar maneuver in 2016, when he created the assistant Democratic leader position for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who at the time was considering a challenge for the number two ranking spot.
Zoom out: Schumer's top leadership lieutenants often appear at weekly press conferences with the Democratic leader, giving them a more public-facing role.
- The caucus will hold their leadership elections on Tuesday, although the positions are essentially hand-picked by Schumer.
- There is not expected to be a shake-up at the top of leadership, with Schumer remaining atop the caucus and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) serving as the minority whip.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that Booker is expected to serve as #4.
