Democrats have floated socialist congresswoman as a primary challenger to Schumer in 2028
After dodging a reporter’s question on whether Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) should remain Senate minority leader, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) fled from the media as one journalist shouted, “You didn’t really answer the question!”
A reporter on Wednesday asked the socialist congresswoman if Schumer should stay on as the Democrats’ Senate leader following the rebellion of eight Democratic caucus members who struck a deal with Republicans to end the government shutdown.
Ocasio-Cortez avoided answering the question, instead speaking in vague generalities. “This problem is bigger than one person, and it actually is bigger than the minority leader in the Senate,” she said, noting that the eight senators “coordinated … their own votes on this” and accusing some of them of having “the hope that people will forget” the vote.
“I think what’s important is that we understand that this is actually, this is not just, a leader is reflecting, is a reflection of the party, and Senate Democrats have selected their leadership to represent them, and so the question needs to be bigger than just one person,” Ocasio-Cortez went on. “We have several Senate primaries this cycle. I know I’m being asked about New York; that is years from now. I have to remind my own constituents, because they think that this election is this year. We actually do have Senate elections this year, and my hope is that people across this country actually participate in their primary elections, in selecting their leadership. Thank you.”
Q: “Should Schumer stay as minority leader?”
AOC: “This problem is bigger than one person… We actually do have Senate elections this year and my hope is that people across this country actually participate in their primary elections.” pic.twitter.com/PcIKsYCXoo
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 12, 2025
“You didn’t really answer the question!” one journalist shouted as Ocasio-Cortez rushed away.
Progressive Democrats have lashed out against Schumer following the eight insurgent senators’ vote, even though the minority leader voted against the bipartisan deal. Reps. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.) and Seth Moulton (D., Mass.) have said Schumer is no longer “effective” as party leader, while other critics are claiming that “Schumer either pulled the strings behind the scenes to get the deal done—or is now so unable to lead his caucus that he could not keep them in line,” Politico reported.
Democrats have long floated Ocasio-Cortez as a primary challenger to Schumer, who is next up for reelection in 2028. She has not directly answered questions about that possibility either, telling CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in an interview last month that “I don’t think this is about … anything … this is what we’re talking about.”
