Ocasio-Cortez Won't Endorse Schumer as Democratic Revolt Spreads Across the Caucus

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declined to endorse Sen. Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader, telling reporters outside the Capitol that the decision belongs to Senate members. Asked whether she would back her home-state senator given calls for new leadership, she said the sentiment is "seen in a lot of places."

Her refusal is not an isolated snub. It is one data point in a cross-ideological revolt inside the Democratic caucus, where progressives and centrists have both withheld support from the man who says he has the votes to lead them.

At least six incoming Democratic senators have said they will not back Schumer for majority leader, including Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Annie Andrews of South Carolina, Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, Troy Jackson of Maine, Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota and Juliana Stratton of Illinois. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) have also said they will not support him. Sanders cited income and wealth inequality as his reason. Slotkin suggested Democrats should consider withholding quorum if Schumer seeks another term without opposition.

Schumer, who will turn 76 later this month, has said he has secured enough support to become leader, which requires a majority of his caucus. The opposition comes after Democrats won seven Senate seats in the midterms, including in Texas, South Carolina and Kansas.

The pincer movement matters because it is unusual. Progressive and centrist senators rarely align against their own leadership simultaneously. If Schumer prevails, he will govern a caucus whose newest members have already publicly refused to back him, complicating his ability to hold the party together on legislative priorities.

The midterm victories have not settled the party's internal argument over generational change and economic populism. Schumer says he has the votes. Several senators say they will not give him theirs.