It’s only been a week since Democrats swept the midterm elections in a blue wave, but already there’s trouble in paradise.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal ultimately endorsed Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader Monday night, hours after initially withholding his support and calling for “new energy and ideas” in Democratic leadership.
The Connecticut Democrat’s morning comments briefly intensified the growing debate over whether Schumer should continue leading Senate Democrats after the party captured the chamber in last week’s midterm elections.
“We need to have a conversation about leadership in the Senate,” Blumenthal told reporters in Hartford.
“We need a conversation about leadership going forward because we need new energy and ideas,” he added.
Blumenthal, a longtime Schumer ally, also predicted the New York Democrat would probably survive the internal fight because no challenger had formally stepped forward.
“I expect that Chuck Schumer will be reelected as Leader because no one has come forth willing to take the position, but we need a conversation about leadership,” Blumenthal said.
The remarks immediately attracted attention because Blumenthal became one of the most prominent incumbent Democratic senators to publicly question whether Schumer should automatically receive another term.
Hours later, however, Blumenthal clarified his position after arriving in Washington.
“I plan to support Chuck Schumer as Senate majority leader, just as I said last week,” Blumenthal told the Connecticut Mirror.
“I’m also incredibly excited about the new ideas and energy that new members are going to be bringing to the Senate. We need them.”
The clarification represented welcome news for Schumer, but it did not eliminate broader questions surrounding his leadership.
At least 11 Democratic senators and senators-elect have publicly stopped short of immediately backing Schumer, according to News 12.
Democrats will choose their next leader through a secret-ballot election expected next month.
Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017, has publicly expressed confidence that he will remain in charge.
“The issue is not me,” Schumer said following the midterms.
“I’ll be reelected as majority leader.”
Schumer’s allies have credited him with recruiting candidates and expanding the Senate map into traditionally Republican territory during an election that delivered Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries strongly defended Schumer Monday.
“Chuck Schumer was the quarterback of a team effort led by Senate Democrats and incredible candidates who ran all across the country,” Jeffries said.
Some newly elected Democrats, however, have openly called for a leadership change.
Minnesota Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan said shortly after the election that she appreciated Schumer’s years of service but believed Democrats needed someone new.
“I am tremendously grateful for Chuck Schumer’s leadership and what he has done over the last many years,” Flanagan said.
“And I think it is time for new leadership.”
Kansas Sen.-elect Adam Hamilton has also declined to support Schumer.
“Whether it’s fair or not, Chuck Schumer is seen as a more divisive figure by many people, and I think we need somebody who’s going to bring us together,” Hamilton told CNN.
Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed has publicly encouraged Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen to consider challenging Schumer.
“I am for Chris Van Hollen,” El-Sayed said.
“If he decides he wants to be Senate Majority Leader, I think he’d be amazing at the job.”
Van Hollen previously said he was not seeking the leadership position, but reports Monday indicated he had begun listening to supporters encouraging him to reconsider.
A person familiar with Van Hollen’s thinking told Politico that the senator had “received an outpouring of calls and is now in active listening mode.”
“The door is not shut,” the person said.
Van Hollen himself has argued against automatically returning Schumer to the leadership position.
“I think it’s important that the Senate Democratic Caucus have a full and open debate before we select the next leader, whoever that may be,” Van Hollen said.
“I don’t think it should be automatic.”
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin has also been mentioned as a potential alternative and has not committed to supporting Schumer.
No senator had formally launched a challenge against Schumer as of Monday night.
