Michael Bennet refrained from explicitly demanding that Chuck Schumer resign as leader of the Senate Democrats, but he did draw a comparison to the party’s internal turmoil over then-President Joe Biden’s nomination last summer.
“On the leadership question, it’s always better to examine whether folks are in the right place, and we’re certainly going to have that conversation,” the Coloradoan said in a town hall in Golden, Colorado, Wednesday evening.
Bennet avoided answering the issue of whether he would demand that Schumer resign by bringing up the dismal 2024 campaign of Joe Biden, who resigned in the face of mounting pressure from other elected Democrats.
“To sidestep your question, I’ll simply say: It’s crucial for individuals to understand their expiration dates. Regarding Joe Biden, I believe we will engage in discussions regarding the Democratic leadership in the near future,” he stated.
Despite the fact that the majority of his caucus members opposed the GOP financing measure, Bennet still approved it about a week ago.
Bennet, who ran for president in 2020, was an early 2024 Senate Democrat to openly challenge Joe Biden’s leadership role. Next year, he may run for governor of Colorado, an ambition he has openly discussed.
Members of Schumer’s party, especially those in the House, have been very critical of his decision, but he has maintained that it was essential to prevent a government shutdown, which he says would have given Trump and Musk more time to cut federal agencies.
According to him, that might divert funds from essential public programs like food stamps or public transportation.
On Tuesday night, Schumer claimed to Chris Hayes of MSNBC that she is able to “read people’s wants” because she is a good politician. He went on to say that Republicans had proposed a “terrible, terrible, bill,” and that a government shutdown would have been “so much worse.”
While Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) did say that Schumer “was wrong” during a town hall earlier this week, she did not mention whether or not he should continue to serve as leader, according to WBUR.
The majority of House Democrats feel this way because they voted unanimously against the GOP measure. Republicans in the Senate have been silent for the most part.
Earlier this week, Schumer’s longstanding ally and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fueled the controversy by declaring, “I personally don’t give away anything for nothing…. ” It seems like that was the case the other day.
