Sanders Opposes Schumer as Democratic Leader as Van Hollen Weighs Challenge Before Dec. 1 Vote

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday he will not support Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York for Democratic leader, and a growing group of Democratic senators and senators-elect have declined to commit to him ahead of a Dec. 1 leadership vote. Sanders said the time is now for change. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner would not commit to backing Schumer for majority leader, though he had praised Schumer's fundraising and candidate recruitment. Others not committing include Elissa Slotkin, Richard Blumenthal, Abdul El-Sayed, Juliana Stratton, Peggy Flanagan, Adam Hamilton, Troy Jackson, Chris Pappas, Annie Andrews and James Talarico. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen is weighing a challenge and calling colleagues. He has criticized Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for siding with the crypto industry and AIPAC. Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats for a decade, has said repeatedly he will be majority leader again. On Wednesday he met incoming senators including Pappas and Hamilton and is planning an agenda with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said he is confident Schumer will prevail.

The New Republic and The Nation, on the left, lead with the erosion of Schumer's support. The New Republic lists the senators who are holding back and quotes Warner, Sanders and Van Hollen. The Nation gives Sanders an exclusive interview, presents him as inspiring the new insurgents, and calls for bolder progressive leadership, naming Van Hollen. It notes Schumer still has significant caucus support. The Blaze and Breitbart, on the right, also center on the revolt but frame it differently. The Blaze calls Van Hollen another Senate dinosaur, noting he is 67, and repeats his crypto and AIPAC criticism. Breitbart leads with comedian Jon Stewart, who pressed Sanders on his podcast about whether Schumer and Jeffries are too tied to the status quo. Both sides cite Sanders and Van Hollen. The left leaves out ageing and celebrity angles, and the right says little about Schumer's caucus support. Semafor adds a distinct angle: a confident Schumer, many colleagues wanting to skip infighting, and Whitehouse's prediction of victory.