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Mamdani declines to back fellow New Yorker Schumer as Senate majority leader
By
Brigid Bergin
Published Nov 13, 2026 at 4:34 p.m. ET
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By
Brigid Bergin
Published Nov 13, 2026 at 4:34 p.m. ET
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declined to endorse Brooklyn native U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer as the next Senate majority leader, a signal that New York’s senior senator is facing increased pushback within the ranks of the Democratic party, including in the Empire State.
Mamdani was asked during a news conference on Friday if Schumer, who currently leads the Senate minority, deserved another term as leader when Democrats take majority control of the chamber in January. Instead of responding directly, the mayor said the American people voted for change in the midterm elections.
“They sent a message that they want Democratic leadership across the board that will deliver material improvements for the working class. And as the mayor of New York City, that's exactly what I want to see for New Yorkers across our five boroughs,” Mamdani said. “So I care less about who it is, and I care more about what they do with that power.”
Mamdani’s decision not to back Schumer is reminiscent of the senator’s own refusal to endorse Mamdani last year after Mamdani won the Democratic nomination for mayor. Even on the day of the mayoral election, Schumer would not tell reporters who he voted for and would only say he looked forward to “working with the next mayor.”
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have all said they would not support Schumer as their party leader.
Schumer led the Senate in 2021 and 2022, when Democrats held a slim majority with then-Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tiebreaking vote. During that period, Congress passed several major pieces of legislation including the COVID-19 stimulus package and the bipartisan infrastructure law, which earmarked billions of dollars in aid to New York.
Late Thursday, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen officially announced he planned to challenge Schumer for Majority Leader. In a statement posted to social media, Van Hollen said the American people demanded new leadership.
“In this election, Americans called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption. To deliver, we need new leadership,” Van Hollen wrote on X. “This isn't about any one person — it’s about answering that call. That's why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader.”
On Friday, the Working Families Party said that it was supporting Van Hollen for the Senate leadership post.
Schumer responded to Van Hollen’s announcement on Thursday night.
“I welcome any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together — 55 seats and counting is an amazing result — and I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader,” Schumer wrote on X. “I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.”
A spokesperson for Schumer referred to his existing statement when asked for a response to Mamdani’s comments.
Senate leadership elections are scheduled to take place in December.
Tagged
Politics
new york city
Brigid Bergin
Brigid Bergin is an award-winning senior reporter on the People and Power desk. She is fiercely committed to telling stories that help people engage and support democracy. In 2022, she hosted a live, ten-week call-in politics show ahead of the midterm elections called The People's Guide to Power. Brigid's reporting in 2017 included some of the first coverage of a political newcomer now known as AOC. In 2016, she broke the news of a voter purge in Brooklyn just days before New York’s presidential primary, triggering city, state and federal investigations. Brigid also guest hosts The Brian Lehrer Show and All Of It. She graduated from the University at Albany and the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-723-4719.
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