A Democrat civil war is brewing as many of their incoming senators want to move on from longtime top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Ranging from Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed to Kansas's Adam Hamilton, at least five of the Democrats set to be sworn in this coming January want someone other than the 75-year-old Schumer leading their caucus. Schumer has led Senate Democrats since January 2017 when he first became minority leader.
El-Sayed, who defeated Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the Senate, endorsed Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen to lead the party.
"I've been very clear: I think he'd be an amazing Senate majority leader," El-Sayed told CNN on Thursday. "Of course, that's a choice he has to make about whether or not he wants to pursue that."
"It seems like he's quite interested in another goal politically," he added.
Van Hollen, who made headlines for traveling to El Salvador to hang out with suspected illegal immigrant gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia, has been floated as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
Adam Hamilton, who became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Kansas since the Great Depression, said during his campaign he wants someone else to lead the party. He confirmed on Thursday that his position on Schumer "hasn't changed."
"I mean no disrespect for Chuck Schumer, but we need new leadership. We need new, younger leadership, young blood. I don't mean just age, but people who are bringing fresh ideas and fresh leadership," Hamilton said. "We've got to have leaders that can unite us, bring us together. Not just Democrats, but bring together Democrats and Republicans to solve real problems."
Other newly elected Democrats who have come out against Schumer as leader include South Carolina's Annie Andrews, Maine's Troy Jackson, Minnesota's Peggy Flanagan, and Illinois's Juliana Stratton. For his part, Schumer remained confident he would stay leader when speaking to reporters earlier this week after the Democrat victories across the country.
"The issue is not me. I'll be re-elected as majority leader. But the issue is focusing on the American people and what they want," he said.
Democrats will have at least 54 seats in the Senate, but currently hold slim leads in Alaska and Mississippi which could bring their lead up to 56. Multiple incoming Democrats, including Stratton and Texas's James Talarico, have called to end the filibuster which could pave the way for them to pass legislation creating nationwide legal abortion, ban certain guns, or create more welfare programs.
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