"Ever since he helped avert a government shutdown in March-citing WIRED's reporting on Elon Musk's desire for one as part of his rationale -Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has been waiting for this moment to redeem himself. The problem is that Schumer may have already blown his chance. With a government shutdown now here, frustrations over Schumer's leadership have been bubbling up behind the scenes."
""It's a foregone conclusion that he will not be leader," a senior Democratic strategist tells me, requesting anonymity to discuss candid conversations with their colleagues. "Most people think he will not be leader in a year and a half's time." This would be after the 2026 midterms, with a new Congress in place and some key retirements among Schumer allies, such as Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. But the last shutdown fight is still reopening old wounds."
"They add that by averting a shutdown in March "in exchange for literally nothing, he delivered the president a budget." Schumer's standing among Senate candidates in competitive races is "the worst it's ever been," a Democratic campaign consultant with clients running for Senate tells me. Schumer's average approval rating is worse than Donald Trump's, hovering in the mid-20s, according to an average of the polls estimated by RealClearPolitics."
Chuck Schumer sought a chance to redeem himself as a government shutdown unfolded, but insiders say that opportunity may be lost. Democratic operatives express increasing frustration with his leadership and predict he likely will not remain leader after the 2026 midterms. Critics contend that his earlier deal to avert a shutdown delivered President Biden a budget "in exchange for literally nothing." Schumer's standing with Senate candidates is reported as extremely poor, his approval ratings have slipped into the mid-20s, and he has dipped below 50 percent approval among Democrats in recent polling.
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