Our Ask
New leadership for Senate Democrats
Where things stand
Senate Democrats will choose their leader for the new Congress in a closed-door, secret-ballot vote, expected in early December. Senators-elect take part. The winner needs a simple majority of the caucus, which will have at least 54 members. Chuck Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017, said on November 4 that he expects to be re-elected majority leader, and no one has announced a challenge.
Five newly elected senators, from Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, and Minnesota, have said publicly that they want new leadership or will not back Schumer. No sitting Democratic senator, including Senators Padilla and Schiff, has said publicly that they will vote against him.
Why we are asking
Indivisible’s national network first called for Schumer to step aside in March 2025, when he helped Republicans pass a government funding bill rather than risk a shutdown. Indivisible renewed the call in November 2025, after eight Senate Democrats broke ranks to end the shutdown without an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s premium subsidies. On November 4, the day after the election, Indivisible asked Senate Democrats to choose new leadership for the incoming majority.
We agree. Schumer’s allies say Tuesday’s results justify another term, and those results were real. The question in front of the caucus is who should lead a majority that voters elected to check this administration, and we think that person should be someone who has already shown they will use every tool the Senate offers when it counts.
What Senators Padilla and Schiff can do
- Say it publicly, before the vote. Because the ballot is secret, a public statement is the only way a senator’s position becomes part of the record. Five incoming senators have already done this.
- Vote for new leadership in the caucus election. With a caucus of at least 54, a challenger needs roughly 28 votes. Every senator who moves changes that math.
- Help produce a challenger. No one has entered the race, and a vote against Schumer needs someone to vote for. A senator can recruit a candidate, back one publicly, or run.
- If they will not oppose Schumer outright, make their support conditional. Senator Chris Van Hollen has said he will not back anyone for leader who does not commit to taking on major fights. Our senators can say publicly what any leader must commit to before receiving their vote.
What you can do: call both senators before December
Either office will take your message. Keep it short, be courteous with staff, and ask where the senator stands.
“Hi, my name is [name], and I live in [West Hollywood / Fairfax], ZIP code [ZIP]. I’m calling to ask Senator [Padilla / Schiff] to say publicly that they will not support Chuck Schumer for Senate Democratic leader, and to vote for new leadership when the caucus meets in December. Can you tell me where the Senator stands on this? Thank you.”
If a staff member tells you where the senator stands, email us at hello@wehofairfaxindivisible.org so we can share it with the group.
What about Representative Friedman?
Representative Friedman has no vote in the Senate leadership election. House Democrats choose their own leaders.
Updated November 4, 2026. Committee assignments and contact information come from each member’s official website. Details of the Senate leadership election and senators’ positions come from reporting by Roll Call, The Hill, Fox News, and The Lever.