Blumenthal backs Schumer to lead U.S. Senate after day of speculation
Sen. Richard Blumenthal ended a day of speculation on Monday night, endorsing New York Sen. Chuck Schumer to be the next Senate Majority Leader in Washington.
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Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Monday night that he will support Sen. Chuck Schumer to lead the U.S. Senate, after a day of speculation that began when Blumenthal declined to endorse the New York Democrat during a morning news conference.
Blumenthal's support could be critical as potential rivals consider challenging Schumer for Senate Majority Leader.
“WE NEED NEW ENERGY AND IDEAS”
Blumenthal is a longtime ally of Schumer’s, but on Monday morning he told reporters in Hartford it may be time for someone new in charge.
“We need to have a conversation about leadership in the Senate,” Blumenthal said. “We need a conversation about leadership going forward because we need new energy and ideas."
Hours later, Blumenthal clarified to reporters in Washington that he will, in fact, vote for Schumer to be Majority Leader.
“I plan to support Chuck Schumer as Senate majority leader, just as I said last week,” Blumenthal told CT Mirror. “I’m also incredibly excited about the new ideas and energy that new members are going to be bringing to the Senate. We need them.”
After last week’s historic “Blue Tsunami,” Schumer was confident in becoming the next Senate Majority Leader, one of the most powerful posts in Washington.
“The issue is not me,” Schumer said. “I’ll be reelected as majority leader.”
But so far, at least 11 Democratic senators have publicly stated they’re not ready to back Schumer yet.
“OTHER OPTIONS”
Much of the opposition comes from newly elected Democrats who flipped up to nine Senate seats last week.
“Whether it’s fair or not, Chuck Schumer is seen as a more divisive figure by many people, and I think we need somebody who’s going to bring us together,” Sen.-Elect Adam Hamilton (D-Kansas) told CNN.
So far, no one has officially challenged Schumer for the Majority Leader job, although senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) have not ruled out a run.
“I am for Chris Van Hollen. If he decides he wants to be Senate Majority Leader, I think he’d be amazing at the job,” said Sen.-Elect Adbul El-Sayed (D-Mich.). “The question for us is, ‘Alright, who are the other options here?’ And who is going to get us to a point where we are passing legislation, putting it on the President's desk and forcing him to make a decision, so that we can talk about what we did with the mandate that we had?”
Another possible successor to Schumer is fellow Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who is recovering from a recent stroke at a rehabilitation facility. Murphy's office did not respond to questions Monday about his future plans.
Schumer also has the backing of fellow New Yorker Hakeem Jeffries, in line to become to first Black U.S. House Speaker despite some opposition within his own caucus.
“Chuck Schumer was the quarterback of a team effort led by Senate Democrats and incredible candidates who ran all across the country,” Jeffries said on Monday.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Democrats will select a new leader in a secret ballot next month. Schumer needs 29 votes to retain the post.
