Democrats Win Both Chambers as Calls Grow to Replace Schumer and Jeffries
Photo: Fox NewsDemocrats won back both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, and within days some party members were calling for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to be replaced. Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota said on election night it was time for new Senate leadership, and Senators-elect James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed have voiced doubts about Schumer. On Thursday El-Sayed told CNN he would back Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland for majority leader if he ran. A source close to Van Hollen told NewsNation he does not plan a challenge, and Van Hollen said Wednesday that no one should commit to a next leader before a discussion of a bold agenda. At a Wednesday press conference Schumer said he will be re-elected majority leader and declined to say whether Democrats would end the filibuster. A Change.org petition to replace Jeffries has passed 500,000 signatures.
Fox News and Just the News, on the right, focus on Democratic leaders and possible conflict. Fox leads with Schumer and Jeffries not answering its questions about the filibuster and an Elon Musk probe, and recalls Trump's push for Republicans to scrap the filibuster. Just the News leads with El-Sayed's backing of Van Hollen, noting no challenger has emerged. The New Republic, on the left, leads with calls for both leaders to go, citing lack of vision, reluctance to confront Trump, corporate PAC money and deference to Israel, plus the petition. The Atlantic instead casts Schumer as architect of a historic landslide. All agree Democrats won big. The Hill adds the report that Van Hollen is not running.
How the sides differ Right sources stress Schumer and Jeffries dodging questions on the filibuster and a possible El-Sayed-backed challenge; left sources stress party calls to replace them, with one crediting Schumer for the win.
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- The AtlanticPaywallChuck Schumer’s Revenge
The New Republic leads with growing calls from inside and outside Congress to replace Jeffries and Schumer, quoting Flanagan and Van Hollen. The Atlantic portrays Schumer as architect of a historic landslide despite years of left-wing criticism.
The Hill reports, citing a source close to Van Hollen via NewsNation, that he is not planning to challenge Schumer and wants an open caucus conversation first.
Fox News stresses Schumer and Jeffries sidestepping its questions on the filibuster and an Elon Musk probe. Just the News leads with El-Sayed's CNN comments backing a possible Van Hollen challenge, noting Schumer faces no declared challenger.