Progressive group calls for Sen. Chuck Schumer to resign over shutdown vote

The leader of one of the nation’s largest progressive political organizing groups called for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s resignation following Sunday’s vote to reopen the federal government without any guarantee that Republicans will extend expiring federal health insurance subsidies.

Schumer of New York was not among the eight members of the Democratic caucus who joined Republicans in breaking the filibuster, but progressive groups are angry that he was unable to keep his members together and that the deal doesn’t include any of Democrats’ key demands.

“Chuck Schumer should step down as Senate Minority Leader immediately,” Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, said in a statement. “If he secretly backed this surrender and voted ‘no’ to save face, he’s a liar. If he couldn’t keep his caucus in line, he’s inept. Either way, he’s proven incapable of leading the fight to prevent health care premiums from skyrocketing for millions of Americans. The country can’t afford his failed leadership any longer.”

None of the eight Democrats who joined Republicans in breaking the filibuster Nov. 9 are on the ballot in 2026. Progressive groups have alleged that points to a coordinated effort to end the shutdown while avoiding consequences from angry Democratic voters in next year’s midterm elections.

On social media, Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin said the timing right after this year’s election is intentional. The group called on Schumer to resign seven months ago after he joined Republicans to avoid a shutdown.

“Important to understand this. There’s a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play. It’s the same reason why they scheduled the surrender for AFTER the election this week. They didn’t want people pissed at Dems right before an election,” he said.