WASHINGTON, Sen. Bernie Sanders said Tuesday he would not support Chuck Schumer for another term as Senate Democratic leader, adding his opposition to demands for change after the party’s strong performance in the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats will choose their leadership next month as they prepare to take the Senate majority.
Sanders, an independent from Vermont, praised Schumer’s work ethic and said he liked the New York Democrat, whom he has known for more than 30 years. But he told a news conference that new leadership was needed. Sanders is positioned to chair the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, giving the push against Schumer a prominent supporter with influence inside the Senate and among grassroots advocates.
Schumer is seeking another two years after a decade leading the caucus. Under his leadership, Democrats gained at least seven Senate seats in the midterms, with vote counting continuing in Mississippi and Alaska, where the party could make further gains. He needs support from a majority of the caucus to remain leader. Progressives have urged him to leave the position, and some incoming Democratic senators have yet to commit to backing him.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin appeared alongside Sanders and reiterated her call for a new generation of leaders without endorsing a replacement. “I am not actively seeking this job. I am seeking change,” she said. Slotkin said the party needed to show it had heard voters’ wishes in the election.
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, whom grassroots progressive advocates are encouraging to challenge Schumer, said Tuesday he was still listening to colleagues about a possible bid. He declined to say whether he would run. Speaking to reporters at the Capitol, he argued that any candidate for leader should offer a clear plan and said, “We should not have a coronation.”
Schumer remains the favorite unless an opponent enters and builds support. He told reporters Tuesday afternoon that Democrats were united around lowering costs and ending corruption, chaos and war, and said he would be proud to serve as majority leader. Across the aisle, Senate Republicans re-elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune as their leader Tuesday after critics were unable to recruit a challenger.
Several Democrats expressed support for Schumer following the election gains. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego acknowledged past disagreements with him but called for unity, comparing the party’s success to a manager taking a team to the World Series and earning another contract. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a former senator returning to the chamber, also confirmed that he supported Schumer.
Sanders separately said he had not decided whether to support eliminating the filibuster during the coming two-year session. Some on the left favor that step, which would let Democrats pass most legislation without Republican votes but give Republicans the same authority when they next control the chamber. Sanders cited arguments for majority rule while also expressing concern about protecting minority rights.
He instead pointed to budget reconciliation as a way to accomplish substantial legislative work. The process permits the majority party to pass certain spending and tax measures without opposition support. Republicans used it to approve President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” Sanders said Democrats could achieve a great deal through a major reconciliation bill.
