The Democrats are in crisis mode right now. It’s only getting worse.
Because Chuck Schumer was smacked with resignation news that has Washington, D.C. stunned.
Schumer’s Leadership Woes Under The Microscope
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is catching flak from all corners of his own party, and the latest jab comes from Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow, who’s tossing her hat into the ring for a potential Senate run. In a Tuesday morning chat with POLITICO, McMorrow didn’t mince words: she’s ready to see Schumer shuffle off the leadership stage, preferably with a gentle nudge if not a full-on shove. It’s a delicious little twist in the Democratic Party’s ongoing melodrama, where infighting over how to deal with President Donald Trump and a Republican Congress has turned into a full-contact sport.
“I think that what I’m seeing in elected leaders, frankly, in both parties, who it almost feels like stepping back is a sign of weakness and a failure,” McMorrow told POLITICO, taking a swipe at Schumer’s clinging-to-power vibe. “Chuck Schumer has dedicated his life to public service and fought a lot of really great fights, and it can be time to step back.” The subtext? Chuck, you’ve had your moment—maybe let someone else play king of the hill before you trip over your own legacy.
McMorrow’s not alone in her subtle eye-roll at Schumer’s reign. She’s joined a chorus of Democratic voices—from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, plus a gaggle of far-left activists and congressional grumblers—all peeved over Schumer’s choice to back a GOP spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. Apparently, keeping the lights on isn’t the heroic stand they wanted from their fearless leader. “I would look for other leadership who understands that it’s a different moment,” McMorrow added, tipping her hat to Pelosi, who at least knew when to pass the torch while still haunting Congress like a savvy ghost.
The Schumer shade doesn’t stop there. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet chimed in, cracking the door open for Chuck’s exit during a March 20 town hall. “It’s important for people to know when it’s time to go,” Bennet told constituents, a line that lands like a polite but firm “bless your heart” in political speak. Meanwhile, McMorrow’s piling on with a critique of Schumer’s old-school playbook.
“There’s still this idea that Democrats and Republicans are still abiding by the same rules and still believe in the same norms and systems and structure,” she told POLITICO. “There seems to be a lack of recognition that this is no longer the Republican Party. This is a MAGA party. And the same approach is not going to work.” Translation: Chuck’s stuck in a time warp, and the MAGA crowd isn’t here to play nice.
For McMorrow, it’s all about fighting for the future—or at least looking like you are. “You either fight for a future or you don’t,” she said. “And that isn’t about whether a party moves left or right or center. It’s just, is there a future or not, and how do you fight for it?” Noble words, sure, but they come as Democrats wrestle with an approval rating scraping the bottom of the barrel and a voter backlash against their cultural stances—like letting biological males compete in women’s sports, a position McMorrow seems to defend despite 79% of Americans saying “no thanks,” per a New York Times-Ipsos poll from January.
“Throughout history, there has always been a scapegoat, and nothing about that is different,” McMorrow told POLITICO, brushing off the sports debate as Republican bait. “Now, whether it’s in Nazi Germany with Jews, whether it’s the pushback against desegregation and unwillingness to integrate our schools, to attacks on the LGBTQ community.” She’s got a point about distractions, but doubling down on a losing issue might not be the genius move she thinks it is.
“Democrats too often take the bait and are having the debate Republicans want us to have, instead of pointing out that for all of the time and energy — these executive orders, these bills that are being introduced, the bill signing on girls and sports — none of that actually does anything to improve most people’s lives, and it’s just another scapegoat.” Fair, but voters might still wonder why she’s swinging at windmills instead of bread-and-butter wins.
Schumer’s likely to hang onto his perch for now, but the digs keep coming as Democrats squabble over direction. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s even trying to pivot to the center on transgender issues, muttering on his March 6 podcast about “fairness” in women’s sports—a far cry from his usual lefty swagger. McMorrow, though? She’s charging full steam into the progressive fray, even as the party’s base shrinks under the weight of its own ideals.
Her Senate ambitions come on the heels of Michigan Senator Gary Peters bowing out in February, opening the door for fresh blood. McMorrow’s already cozying up to the Senate Democrats’ campaign crew, while Rep. Haley Stevens eyes the same prize. Pete Buttigieg, Michigan’s newest transplant, wisely opted to sit this one out. As for Schumer, he’s left fending off Roscoe Pounder-style, twirling his mustache as the party unravels around him—just another day in the life of a leader who might’ve overstayed his welcome.
Chuck Schumer’s Defiant Stand Amid Democratic Discord
On Sunday’s edition of NBC News’ Meet the Press, Schumer brushed off calls for his resignation with a curt, “Look, I’m not stepping down,” signaling his intent to weather the criticism. The funding bill in question has become a lightning rod for Democratic ire. A faction of the party urged Schumer to derail it, viewing it as a vehicle for Trump’s priorities. Instead, Schumer opted to let it proceed to a full vote. While he and a small cadre of Senate Democrats pushed the measure forward, they later cast their ballots against its final passage—a maneuver that’s left many questioning his strategy.
Schumer defended his actions on Meet the Press, claiming they sprang “out of pure conviction as to what a leader should do and what the right thing for America and my party was.” His argument? Stalling the bill would have triggered a government shutdown, handing Trump a golden opportunity to gut federal jobs and slash social and public services.
Schumer didn’t shy away from admitting the bill’s flaws, calling it “certainly bad.” Yet he insisted that “a shutdown would be 15 or 20 times worse,” framing his decision as the lesser evil. It’s a rationale that’s failed to quell the unease rippling through his party. Critics argue Schumer squandered a rare chance to flex Democratic muscle against Trump, exposing a chasm in how the party should confront the administration. The episode has laid bare a leadership style that some see as overly cautious—or worse, conciliatory.
Enter Nancy Pelosi, the former U.S. House Speaker, who didn’t mince words at a San Francisco event last week. “I myself don’t give away anything for nothing,” she declared, taking a thinly veiled swipe at Schumer’s tactics. “I think that’s what happened the other day.” Pelosi mused that Schumer might have pressed Republicans for a compromise—a “third way”—to extract concessions. “They may not have agreed to it, but at least the public would have seen they’re not agreeing to it,” she added, conceding that such a gambit risked a shutdown. Her critique paints Schumer as a leader who folded too quickly, missing a chance to rally public support.
The discontent isn’t limited to party elders. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent who often aligns with Democrats, widened the lens on ABC News, pinning the fiasco on the party’s broader failings. He accused Democrats of being “dominated by billionaires” and “out of touch” with their base—a stinging indictment that suggests Schumer’s misstep is symptomatic of deeper rot. Grassroots frustration is bubbling up too, with Democratic voters airing their grievances at town halls nationwide.
At one recent event, a constituent pressed Colorado Senator Michael Bennet on Schumer’s tenure, asking, “When will you be calling for [Schumer] to be replaced as minority leader?” Bennet sidestepped the demand but hinted at brewing unrest, saying, “And in dodging your question, let me just say, it’s important for people to know when it’s time to go… We’re going to have conversations, I’m sure, in the foreseeable future, about all the Democratic leadership.”
Schumer’s refusal to budge may keep him in the driver’s seat for now, but it’s hard to ignore the cracks forming beneath him. His party’s rank-and-file, along with heavyweights like Pelosi and Sanders, are signaling a hunger for a tougher stance—something Schumer’s measured approach seems ill-equipped to deliver. As Democrats grapple with their identity in the Trump era, Schumer’s leadership is looking less like a steady hand and more like a liability.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
