Flanagan Calls for New Senate Democratic Leadership

Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan called Wednesday for new leadership of Senate Democrats, publicly challenging Chuck Schumer’s bid to remain the party’s leader after Democrats won control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms. Flanagan did not name a replacement, and the caucus has not voted on who will lead it in the next Congress. Flanagan said she was grateful for Schumer’s leadership but believed it was time for a change. She linked her position to the election of new senators, including candidates who refused corporate political action committee money, and said she was ready to work with incoming colleagues to replace him. She said she could not identify who should take over, while arguing that senators wanted new voices in the caucus. Her comments came at her first news conference since winning her Minnesota Senate race. She was among the incoming Democrats who campaigned on calls for changes to party leadership and policy. Schumer has said he intends to remain leader. At a Wednesday press conference, he expressed confidence that he would be reelected, according to one report of his remarks. He said the focus should be on the American people rather than on him. Several...