Democrats are in search of a new face. The old guard is facing extinction.
And now rumors of a U.S. Senate Democrat calling it quits are running wild.
AOC vs. Schumer: Democrats’ Self-Destructive Showdown Looms in 2028
The Democratic Party’s internal chaos is reaching a fever pitch, and political analyst Mark Halperin is sounding the alarm. On Friday’s The Morning Meeting, Halperin dropped a bombshell: if Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) squares off against Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in the 2028 Senate primary, Schumer might have no choice but to wave the white flag and abandon his reelection bid. This isn’t just idle speculation—Halperin sees a brutal takedown in the making, and Democrats are practically begging for it.
According to NBC News, party insiders and outspoken voices alike have been nudging Ocasio-Cortez to take on Schumer if he dares to run again. The reasoning? She’s got the ammunition, and he’s got no defense. “If she ran against him, I know exactly what she would say to try to beat him,” Halperin said.
“It’s very hard for me to imagine how Schumer could come back because the way to try to beat her would be to go negative on her — ‘she’s inexperienced, she’s too left-wing.’ It seems to me that all that would backfire.” Translation: Schumer’s stuck. Go after AOC, and he’ll look like a desperate old guard punching down. Stay quiet, and her attacks will shred him. “And so I think if she runs against him, he has to quit the race because I don’t think he can defend himself against her,” Halperin concluded.
The numbers back up the nightmare scenario. A fresh Data For Progress poll, released Friday, shows Ocasio-Cortez trouncing Schumer 55% to 36% in a hypothetical primary clash. Sure, Halperin hedged that “it’s not necessarily the greatest poll in the world,” but the trend is undeniable: the socialist darling is gaining ground, and the Senate minority leader is sinking fast.
Schumer’s woes aren’t new. He’s been bleeding support ever since he caved and helped pass a Republican-led funding bill to dodge a government shutdown. That move didn’t just anger the progressive wing—it exposed him as a compromiser in a party increasingly allergic to moderation. Now, with AOC lurking, his grip on power looks shakier than ever.
Former Clinton pollster Mark Penn piled on the warnings back in March, painting an even grimmer picture. “I don’t think she’s going to challenge Schumer, but if she does, I mean, already the Democratic ratings are down to 29%. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Penn said. “That means the left base is with the Democratic Party and the moderates are all leaving the party. So AOC taking off Schumer, wow, that could finish this party off. This could put it into the wilderness the way the Labour Party was for a decade.” Penn’s not wrong—polls from CNN/SSRS and NBC News in March pegged Democratic popularity at a pathetic 29% and 27%, respectively. That’s not just a dip; it’s a collapse.
Let’s be real: this potential slugfest is a symptom of a deeper rot. Democrats are fracturing, and their obsession with pushing AOC—a firebrand with a knack for headlines but a thin resume—against a seasoned but floundering Schumer reeks of desperation.
They’re betting on a progressive savior to rally the base, but they’re ignoring the exodus of everyone else. If Ocasio-Cortez takes the plunge, it won’t just be Schumer’s career on the line—it could be the final nail in the coffin for a party already teetering on the edge. Halperin’s right: Schumer might have to quit. But the bigger question is whether Democrats can survive their own reckless infighting. Spoiler alert: history says they can’t.
Democrats Eat Their Own: Schumer Faces Party Revolt Over GOP Spending Bill Betrayal
The Democratic Party is imploding, and the latest casualty in their self-inflicted chaos is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Pass the Torch, a grassroots group that previously shoved former President Joe Biden out of the 2024 race, has now set its sights on Schumer, demanding he resign his leadership post. The reason? Schumer’s jaw-dropping decision to side with Republicans and push forward a House GOP spending bill that Democrats claim is a wishlist for Trump’s agenda.
The backlash was swift and brutal. “Chuck Schumer is unwilling and unable to meet the moment,” Pass the Torch declared in a scathing statement on Friday. “His sole job is to fight MAGA’s fascist takeover of our democracy — instead, he’s directly enabling it. Americans desperately need a real opposition party to stand up to Trump.” The group didn’t mince words, adding, “It’s clear that will not happen as long as Schumer remains in charge of Senate Democrats. It’s time to ‘chuck’ Schumer out.” They’re calling for his resignation to pave the way for leaders who’ll “actually fight for the American people” — a damning indictment of Schumer’s tenure.
This isn’t Pass the Torch’s first rodeo. Back in July, they launched “Pass the Torch, Joe,” a petition drive that strong-armed Biden into abandoning his 2024 run. Now, they’re flexing their muscle again, proving they’re not afraid to take down party bigwigs when the mood strikes. And Schumer gave them all the ammunition they needed on Thursday when he took to the Senate floor and announced he’d vote to advance the House Republican-drafted six-month government funding bill. For a party that loves to posture as the resistance to all things GOP, Schumer’s move was a gut punch.
Democrats were already gearing up for a showdown over the bill, which slashes funding for nondefense programs and hands Trump a blank check to redirect cash toward his priorities. So when Schumer signaled his surrender, the fury erupted. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), never one to hold back, tore into him. “There is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal,” she told reporters on Thursday. “And this is not just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board — the entire party.” Her words paint a picture of a Democratic Party united only in its disgust with Schumer’s spinelessness.
She’s not alone. Heavyweights like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also trashed the House proposal, warning it’s a Trojan horse for Trump’s plans. Yet there was Schumer, ready to roll over and play nice with Republicans while his party fumed. It’s a stunning display of tone-deafness from a man who’s supposed to be the Democrats’ top dog in the Senate.
The irony is thick. Democrats spent years branding themselves as the last line of defense against Trump, only for Schumer to cozy up to a GOP bill that could grease the wheels for the former president’s return. Pass the Torch isn’t wrong — if Schumer’s job was to lead the charge against “MAGA’s takeover” he’s failing spectacularly. Instead of rallying his troops, he’s waving a white flag, leaving Democrats fractured and furious.
This is what happens when a party’s leadership loses its nerve. Schumer’s capitulation isn’t just a tactical blunder; it’s a betrayal of the sanctimonious rhetoric Democrats have been peddling. They can’t claim to be the guardians of “democracy” and the “resistance” while their Senate leader hands Republicans the keys. Pass the Torch sees the writing on the wall: Schumer’s a liability, and the party’s rotting from the top. Whether he’ll cling to power or get “chucked” remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear — Democrats are reaping the chaos they’ve sown.
