Schumer battles Thune in Senate "vote-a-rama" all-nighter
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For Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the overnight session on Thursday is about proving Democrats have a path — and the guts — to get out of the political wilderness.
Why it matters: Schumer sees the budget "vote-a-rama" as his shot to convince voters that President Trump's GOP serves billionaires, not the working-class people who make up the new MAGA coalition. Axios scooped Schumer's thinking earlier this week.
- Democrats are expected to offer about 40 amendments as part of the debate over the Senate GOP's $300 billion budget reconciliation package.
- The amendments — which aren't expected to pass — are designed to pin Republicans between what's good for their reelections and what could infuriate Trump.
🔑 Schumer's two key targets are Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who each face reelection in 2026.
- As Schumer told Axios this week: "In 2026, these amendments are going to play a valuable role."
🎉 Zoom in: The festivities won't end until each side votes the other to exhaustion.
- Amendments are unlimited and the median age of senators is 65, per Pew Research Center.
- Among the potential amendments: Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) plan to put GOP senators on the record on Trump's IVF promises, as Axios scooped tonight.
The bottom line: For Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), the evening is much more straightforward.
- Endure the vote-a-rama and pass the resolution.
- Plant the Senate's flag as Trump's most viable path to quickly fund his mass deportations and border security.
- Take back the upper hand from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has a daunting path next week to get his one big bill through the House.
