Rogue group of Dem senators wants Schumer to support far-left candidates like Mamdani
A rogue group of left-wing senators is rebelling against Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer’s (D., N.Y.) midterm strategy, another sign of deep fractures within the party.
The “Fight Club,” as the group calls itself, is frustrated with Schumer’s favoritism toward establishment candidates over radicals such as socialist New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the New York Times reported. The group also accuses Schumer of inadequately pushing back against Trump’s agenda.
At least six senators make up the group, which includes Democrats Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Tina Smith (Minn.), Chris Murphy (Conn.), and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), as well as independent socialist Bernie Sanders (Vt.). Democratic senators Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), and Martin Heinrich (N.M.) have also participated in the group’s actions. They share a “mutinous mood” against Schumer and the Senate Democratic Caucus’s campaign arm, the Times reported, reflecting “widespread doubts among the Democratic base that party leaders in Congress have a strong vision and a winning strategy for returning to power.”
The “Fight Club” members aren’t the only left-wingers to criticize Schumer in recent weeks. Progressives in both the House and Senate blasted the minority leader after a group of centrist Democrats voted with Republicans to reopen the government earlier this month, leading left-wingers to say Schumer could no longer command his caucus. Murphy, for example, called reopening a mistake, while Sanders said the vote made for “a very bad night.” Reps. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.) and Seth Moulton (D., Mass.) said Schumer was an ineffective leader and called for his removal.
The “Fight Club” mutiny exemplifies the deep fractures between the Democratic Party’s establishment and left-wing base. Mamdani’s campaign heightened those tensions, with establishment leaders facing a tough decision on whether to back his campaign. Even after months of pressure from progressives, Schumer refused to endorse Mamdani.
Unlike Schumer, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) and New York governor Kathy Hochul (D.) eventually buckled to progressive pressure and backed the socialist before the November 4 election.
Mamdani’s win emboldened his allies in the Democratic Socialists of America, who have vowed to primary establishment Democrats if they do not support a far-left agenda. New York state senator Jabari Brisport (D.) warned Hochul this month that she has to get in line with a socialist agenda on childcare or lose her reelection bid next year.
Schumer himself may face a primary challenge when he’s next up for reelection in 2028. Democrats have long floated socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), who earlier this month fled from media questions about whether Schumer should stay on as minority leader, as a possible challenger.
The formation of the “Fight Club” and its opposition to the official party campaign apparatus are highly unusual. “I can think of no historical example that would compare to this level of internal caucus fear and dissension,” Democratic strategist Josh Horton told the Times. “To be essentially a guerrilla group of senators who are raising concerns not just about one bill or one decision, but questions of leadership’s entire disposition toward politics and the Trump administration, feels unique.”
