Freshman Democrats Won't Back Schumer for Majority Leader

Chuck Schumer wants to keep running the Senate Democratic caucus. His newest members have other ideas. A string of senators-elect has publicly refused to back him for majority leader, even as Democrats prepare to take control of both chambers of Congress.

South Carolina's Annie Andrews told Fox News's Bret Baier on Thursday that the party needs fresh leadership. Asked whether she'd support Schumer, she said: 'I still very much believe it's time for generational change on both sides of the aisle.' Kansas senator-elect Adam Hamilton, the first Democrat to win a Kansas Senate seat in 94 years, told CNN on the campaign trail he wouldn't back Schumer either — a stance that fits the independent brand he ran on.

Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed declined again on CNN Thursday and said he wants to weigh other options. The list keeps growing: James Talarico of Texas, Juliana Stratton of Illinois, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota and Troy Jackson of Maine have all held back their support too.

The resistance tracks with the Democratic base, which has spent the last two years handing progressive candidates wins in local and state races and signaling an appetite for younger leadership. Schumer, 75, has led Senate Democrats since 2017.

He isn't rattled. 'I'll be re-elected as majority leader,' Schumer told reporters Wednesday, adding that the real issue 'is not me … the issue is focusing on the American people and what they want.' As of Friday afternoon, no other Senate Democrat had officially entered the race, and Schumer is widely expected to hold enough caucus votes to keep the top job.

Come January, Democrats will have comfortable majorities in the House and Senate — giving them the tools to push back on Donald Trump's administration and pass the legislation they campaigned on. Whether Schumer or someone else holds the gavel when that fight starts is now the first internal battle of the new Congress.