Democrats begin calls for Schumer’s ouster after some in his caucus fold on shutdown fight

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer could be in hot water with his party after Sunday’s bipartisan deal that is expected to end the government shutdown this week. 

Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat, is voting against the deal, but his failure to prevent others in his caucus from surrendering on Democrats’ health-care demands is leading some party members to call for his ouster. 

“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Rep. Ro Khanna, California Democrat, said on social media. “If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?”

Democrats wanted to add an extension of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies set to expire this year to the government funding bill. Republicans would only agree to hold a vote on the issue after the government is reopened.

Eight Senate Democrats agreed to the GOP offer to hold a vote on the health care subsidies in the second week of December. Other Democrats believe the vote is a red herring and Republicans won’t let it pass. 

Mr. Schumer said in his statement opposing the bipartisan deal that Democrats will continue to fight to ensure millions of families don’t lose their health-care coverage. 

“Make no mistake about it, the American people know who is inflicting this healthcare trauma on them: Donald Trump and the Republicans,” he said. “Americans will remember Republican intransigence every time they make a sky-high payment on health insurance.”

Graham Platner, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Maine next year, agreed with Mr. Khanna that Mr. Schumer should be replaced

“Chuck Schumer is not built for this moment,” he said.

Mr. Schumer has endorsed Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary. Whoever wins will face off against longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the most-watched Senate races of the 2026 cycle.

Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat who is running for Senate against incumbent Democratic Sen. Ed Markey, is also joining calls for Mr. Schumer to be replaced. 

“Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership,” he said on social media. If Mr. Schumer “were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare. Maybe now [Mr. Markey] will finally join me in pledging not to vote for Schumer?”

The comments critical of Mr. Schumer came even as he was one of 39 Democrats to continue to filibuster legislation to reopen the government because it did not extend the enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits. 

But the shutdown fight is on its way to an end after eight Senate Democrats broke ranks and voted Sunday with Republicans to clear the filibuster in exchange for a promise of a December vote on the health care issue. 

The spending package to reopen the government through January will still take a few days to process through both chambers.