WASHINGTON ― Democrats across the country are furious at their party for agreeing to reopen the federal government without key health care demands, and they’re taking it out largely on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Schumer opposed the deal cut by a group of moderate Senate Democrats, but his progressive critics faulted him anyway for leading the failed strategy and for being unable to hold his caucus together in pushing for an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies next year. The agreement instead gives Democrats a vote next month on extending them, but it’s likely to fail due to widespread GOP opposition on the issue.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a potential 2028 presidential contender, wrote in an online post on Sunday. “If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?”
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), the former chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, cited Schumer’s refusal to endorse incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as well as his handling of the shutdown fight.
“Don’t endorse or say who you voted for in NYC despite there being a Dem candidate,” Pocan wrote online. “Get Dem Senators to negotiate a terrible ‘deal’ that does nothing real about healthcare. Screw over a national political party.”
