Flanagan calls to replace Schumer
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan urged Senate Democrats to replace Minority Leader Chuck Schumer a day after her Minnesota win.
The push tests whether a new progressive class can unseat a decade-long leader.
Background
Peggy Flanagan is Minnesota's senator-elect, the state's current lieutenant governor and the first Native American woman elected to the Senate; she defeated Republican Michele Tafoya, a retired sports broadcaster, by 10 percentage points. Chuck Schumer of New York has led the Democratic caucus for about a decade, first arrived in Congress in 1981 and is soon to be 76. Schumer has drawn criticism from fellow Democrats over his leadership during President Donald Trump's second term, especially from the party's liberal base, and Flanagan had already said during the campaign she would not back him as leader.
How it unfolded
- Jun 5, 2025During the Minnesota Senate primary, neither Peggy Flanagan nor opponent Angie Craig would commit to supporting Chuck Schumer for leader.
- Nov 10, 2025After a shutdown deal, progressive Democrats and advocacy groups called for Schumer's ouster; Rep. Ro Khanna said Schumer "is no longer effective and should be replaced."
- Aug 12, 2026Flanagan joined a growing list of Democratic Senate nominees and sitting senators saying Schumer should not keep leading the party after November, saying Democrats need "a progressive champion."
- Aug 17, 2026Progressive Senate nominees Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan), Peggy Flanagan (Minnesota) and Troy Jackson (Maine) said they would not vote for Schumer as leader.
- Nov 3, 2026Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya in the Minnesota Senate race; Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress.
- Nov 4, 2026At her first news conference since winning, Senator-elect Flanagan called for Senate Democrats to replace Schumer, renewing a campaign pledge, but said she did not yet know who should replace him.
- Nov 4, 2026No Democrat had entered the race against Schumer; he faces a leadership vote in December before the new Congress takes office in January.
Key terms
- Minority Leader
- The floor leader of the second-largest party caucus in a US legislative body, akin to a parliamentary opposition leader.
- Democratic caucus
- Formed or joined a group of members of the same political party or movement.
- shutdown deal
- A government shutdown is when funding legislation is not enacted in time, halting non-essential federal services and furloughing workers.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Flanagan
- She is "tremendously grateful" for Schumer's leadership but says "it is time for new leadership," arguing voters sent a "resounding" message for "a new movement."
- Progressives
- Senators-elect Abdul El-Sayed, Juliana Stratton and Troy Jackson said they won't vote for Schumer for leadership.
- Support
- Sen. Elise Slotkin of Michigan called for a "new generation" of leaders in the party to succeed Schumer.
- Caution
- MinnPost reports it is likely a losing fight, as most Democratic senators remain loyal to Schumer, especially after this week's election victory.
Still unverified
Reports suggest Schumer has the votes to stay on as leader next year; MinnPost reports it is likely a losing fight for Flanagan, as most Democratic senators remain loyal to Schumer.