Graham Platner, the oyster farmer and progressive Democrat who’s operating for Senate in Maine, says Senate Democratic Chief Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has “failed” to maintain his caucus unified in opposition to a authorities funding invoice that doesn’t prolong medical health insurance subsidies and will step down as chief.
“It is a bleak morning for millions of American families because last night some Senate Democrats caved. They caved and voted with Republicans and now up to 20 million Americans are going to watch their health care premiums double, triple and, in some cases, quadruple,” Graham mentioned in a brief video clip his marketing campaign posted on social platform X.
Platner blamed the Democratic chief for the end result, although Schumer and most Senate Democrats voted in opposition to a procedural movement to advance a authorities funding bundle that may finish the shutdown after 41 days.
“This happened because Chuck Schumer failed in his job yet again because they do not understand that when we fight, we win. When we hold the line for working families, for working people, we win. But they don’t get this. They see all of this as a game,” Platner mentioned, standing beneath a inexperienced umbrella in wet New England climate.
“Call in today, call your senators. … Call your senators and say that Chuck Schumer can no longer be leader,” he mentioned.
Platner is operating in a Senate main in opposition to Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Schumer’s high recruit to flip the seat now held by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Schumer has taken warmth from Home progressives, as effectively, over the defection of eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus who voted Sunday to proceed to a Home-passed invoice to reopen authorities, which can function the legislative car to a bipartisan Senate funding proposal.
Schumer voted in opposition to the funding invoice, as did 39 different members of the Democratic caucus.
Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.), a progressive Democrat representing Silicon Valley, known as on Senate Democrats early Monday to oust Schumer.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?” Khanna wrote on X.
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), one other main Home progressive, additionally vented his frustration with Schumer.
“Don’t endorse or say who you voted for in NYC despite there being a Dem candidate. Get Dem Senators to negotiate a terrible ‘deal’ that does nothing real about healthcare. Screw over a national political party. Profile of scourge? Next,” Pocan posted on X.
Schumer on Monday declared on the Senate flooring that Democrats scored a serious victory through the shutdown by elevating the problem of rising well being care prices and the refusal by Republicans to increase medical health insurance subsidies.
“Republicans now own this health care crisis. They knew it was coming. We wanted to fix it. Republicans said no. And now it’s on them,” he mentioned.
Home Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) on Monday defended Schumer for waging a “valiant” struggle to increase the well being care subsidies.
“Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats over the last seven weeks have waged a valiant fight on behalf of the American people,” he advised reporters within the Capitol.
