WASHINGTON – Chuck Schumer has led Senate Democrats through both victories and defeats over the past decade. But the 2026 midterm elections may carry more weight than any previous contest, as some Democrats argue that the longtime leader should step aside for a new generation.
Schumer has played a direct or indirect role in guiding the Democratic Senate campaign operation in nearly every election cycle for two decades. Now, despite a challenging map that gives Republicans an advantage, he has rebuilt support within his caucus as Democrats grow more confident about their chances of gaining seats.
Allies of the New York Democrat describe the shift as a major recovery from last year, when Democrats were still absorbing significant election losses. Schumer’s standing hit a low in spring 2025, after the party’s base fiercely criticized him for voting to keep President Donald Trump’s government funded.
Interviews with more than a dozen Democratic senators in recent weeks suggest that Schumer has regained considerable influence. If Democrats add seats in November, lawmakers expect him to secure enough votes in the caucus’s private leadership election, which will likely take place the week after Election Day.
A Democratic majority — once considered highly unlikely — would make another term for Schumer as leader almost certain, several senators said. Senate leaders in both parties are chosen by secret ballot, allowing members to keep their votes private.
Yet Schumer’s future is not guaranteed. No Democrat has formally challenged him, but that could change quickly if the party suffers heavier-than-expected losses. Several Democratic candidates have already said publicly that they would not support him, while others have declined to take a position.
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this month, Schumer made clear that he intends to seek another term as leader. He said Democrats have improved their position with voters over the past year and could still capture the majority after opposing Trump’s tariffs, pushing more than a dozen votes aimed at ending the war in Iran and emphasizing affordability, corruption and health care.
“I think our caucus is strong, it’s united,” Schumer said. “A year ago, everyone said it was out of reach. Today, we have a broader map, strong candidates, a clear contrast.”
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said seats in traditionally Republican states are now competitive, in part because of the candidates Schumer helped recruit.
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who has served alongside Schumer for nearly 30 years, said Democrats’ current prospects would have seemed almost unimaginable in 2025. “You can’t argue with results,” Wyden said.
Asked what would happen if Democrats fail to gain seats, Wyden replied: “I’m not thinking about that.”
Some senators are still withholding their support for Schumer
Although Schumer currently appears to be in a strong position, many Democratic senators — especially members of the party’s progressive wing — have refused to say publicly whether they will back him.
“It’s a little bit too early to speculate on that right now,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said her attention remains on the November elections. “We’ll know a lot more after the midterms,” she said.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, elected to the Senate for the first time in 2024, has urged Democrats to make room for a “new generation” of party leaders.
“It’s not a secret that Democrats still haven’t totally found their footing after Trump,” Slotkin said in a recent interview. She added that “we have to see what the results of the election are.”
The field of potential challengers remains uncertain
Even if Democrats lose Senate seats, it is uncertain whether another senator would want to take on the demands of leading the caucus. Several potential contenders are instead considering presidential campaigns in 2028.
Speculation about a possible challenge has focused on Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Brian Schatz of Hawaii. Schatz has already announced his campaign for the No. 2 leadership post, which will open when Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin retires.
Asked about Schumer, Van Hollen said he doesn’t want to discuss it yet.
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“Look, I think everybody wants to get through this election, and then we’ll go from there,” Van Hollen said in an interview before the Senate left Washington to campaign.
Several Senate candidates around the country have either said they won’t vote for Schumer if they are elected or remained noncommittal, including Troy Jackson in Maine, Adam Hamilton in Kansas and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.
At the same time, the Senate Majority PAC, which is closely aligned with Schumer, has put millions of dollars into those campaigns and others. Schumer backed El-Sayed’s primary opponent, but the two met in Washington last month.
El-Sayed said after the meeting that the party is united and “we’re having really productive conversations about what it takes to win.”
Schumer has kept his caucus close
Several of the Democratic senators who insisted on anonymity to share their views agreed that Schumer is likely to win another term as leader. There have been very few discussions about a change, said one, partially because Schumer has stayed close to almost everyone in his caucus, keeping them on speed dial in his famous flip phone. Another senator said that they aren’t aware of Schumer asking for any commitments just yet.
At the same time, some said they would like to see Schumer, who is up for reelection in 2028, announce that this is his last term as leader and commit to helping transition to a successor. A commitment like that could end the conversation, one senator said.
Another senator said that a commitment from Schumer about the future isn’t as important — what will matter is if they win in November.
All of the senators agreed that there are no obvious contenders right now to challenge him, but that could change quickly if Democrats lose Senate seats in November.
Schumer has turned the tables since 2025
Attitudes within the Democratic caucus have improved since last year, when the base revolted against Schumer for the March vote to keep the Republican president’s government open. Progressive groups like MoveOn called for him to step down, arguing that Democrats needed to fight harder against Trump and Republicans.
Schumer regained some favor with Democrats inside and outside the Capitol during a prolonged government shutdown a year ago and as he has repeatedly blocked Trump’s nominees and Republican legislation.
But while the calls to resign or step aside have waned, many are still agitating for change.
“Our priority right now is organizing and making sure we elect a new generation laser-focused on affordability and fighting corruption,” said Joel Payne, a national spokesman for MoveOn.
Referring to the 2025 calls for Schumer to step aside, Payne said the group’s members have “already rendered a judgment on Schumer’s tenure and made clear they’re eager for new leadership that energizes the party base.”
It’s unclear, though, whether calls from the progressive wing of the party will influence the secret ballot vote, in which Schumer needs only a majority to win.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., dismissed the talk about Schumer’s future.
“It’s hard to lose if no one else is challenging you,” he said.
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Associated Press writers Steven Sloan, Seung Min Kim and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.
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