Scoop: Schumer faces growing House Dem calls to step down
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on March 14. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is facing more calls to step aside than have previously been reported, with the possibility of more soon to come, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: No senators have called for Schumer to step down. But outside the Senate, he's enduring a pounding from Democrats who want him to adopt more combative tactics or step aside for someone who will.
- Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), asked at a town hall on Tuesday whether Schumer should "retire or step down," nodded her head and said "yes." Ramirez's comments have not previously been reported.
- The liberal group Indivisible has also called on Schumer to resign as leader. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) also followed suit at a town hall on Tuesday.
- One House Democrat, asked if more could follow, told Axios: "I think there are some already there but just haven't been asked directly or avoided the question."
State of play: Schumer incurred the wrath of Democrats in the lower chamber last week by supporting a Republican measure to keep the government from shutting down.
- All but one House Democrat voted against the bill because it didn't include language constraining DOGE's ability to cut congressionally approved agencies and programs.
- But Senate Democrats allowed it to pass, with Schumer arguing that a shutdown would have played into President Trump's hands and allowed him to more swiftly carry out his plans to downsize the federal government.
What they're saying: "I've got no personal beef with Schumer, I think he's a talented guy, but for me the bigger question is: Is he going to do this again?" Ivey told Axios in a phone interview.
- The Maryland Democrat, whose district has one of the largest concentrations of federal workers, pointed to the next government funding deadline in September as a key test for Schumer.
- "When this comes back up in six months, is he going to take the same approach or not? If he's still on that track, I'm for moving on."
What we're hearing: "There was desire for generational change before this — you saw it in our House ranking member elections. Schumer is just fueling it," a senior House Democrat told Axios on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly.
- The senior lawmaker noted that House members have "very little say on Senate leadership" and predicted most "will decline comment for that reason."
- "The ones who do speak out will do it because of grassroots pressure, and I doubt that many of them will defend Schumer," they added.
Between the lines: House Democrats are being fueled not just by their personal feeling of betrayal, but considerable anger among constituents.
- "You run into people at the grocery store ... their livelihoods are at stake," said Ivey.
- He added, "They knew about the flip flop ... they were not fooled by the vote for it on cloture and vote against it on final passage."
- Ramirez noted to Axios that there were multiple "calls for [Schumer] to step down" at her town hall on Tuesday.
The bottom line: In interviews this week, Schumer has firmly defended his decision to support the GOP measure.
- "I should be the leader," he said on "The View," pointing to his ability to recruit and support strong Senate candidates.
- Schumer's office did not immediately respond to an Axios request for comment.
