Shutdown Cave May Be End of Schumer As Senate Leader

"For the record, Chuck Schumer voted against the motion to proceed on a government-reopening measure that is likely to bring his eight-plus years as Senate democratic leader to an end, probably sooner rather than later. But that doesn't seem to matter. Democrats angry over the abrupt abandonment of a Senate filibuster that seemed to be working in the party's favor are blaming Schumer, either because they believe he quietly encouraged the eight Democrats who defected, or because he couldn't keep them in line."

"The denunciations of the deal are coming in so fast that it's hard to keep track of them, many from the very Democrats who will face voters in key 2026 Senate contests, as Politico reports: Across the Senate map, opposition spanned Schumer's handpicked recruits - who've been largely silent about the shutdown - to the insurgents who've called for his ouster."

""This is a bad deal for Ohioans," former Sen. Sherrod Brown said in a statement. Maine Gov. Janet Mills panned "the promise of a vote [on the subsidies] that won't go anywhere." Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper - Democrats' best chance for flipping a Senate seat and the last major candidate to weigh in on the deal - said in a statement that "any deal that lets health care costs continue to skyrocket is unacceptable. ...""

"Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said in a video, "we deserve so much more than this bullshit. ..." "If people believe this is a 'deal,' I have a bridge to sell you," said Flanagan's rival, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), adding that she's a "no" when the measure comes up for a vote in the House. "I'm not going to put 24 million Americans at risk of losing their health care.""

Chuck Schumer voted against the motion to proceed on a government-reopening measure that may end his eight-plus years as Senate Democratic leader. Democrats responded angrily to the abrupt abandonment of a Senate filibuster that had appeared to work in the party's favor. Some Democrats blame Schumer for either quietly encouraging eight defectors or failing to keep them in line. Denunciations are coming rapidly from Democrats across the Senate map, including handpicked recruits and insurgent critics. Several high-profile Democrats called the deal unacceptable and warned it would harm voters and drive up health care costs. House Democrats largely remain silent or deflect blame.

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