News

Schumer Hit With Major Threat After Backing GOP Bill

March 14, 2025
by The Times Of America

Schumer Faces Calls for AOC Primary Challenge After Backing GOP Spending Bill

Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is facing intense criticism from progressive Democrats after agreeing to a Republican-backed bill to keep the government open. 

The decision, which grants the Trump administration new authority to cut or rescind federal spending, has sparked frustration within his own party, with some urging Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to challenge him in the next Senate primary.

Less than a day after Schumer announced his support for the measure, progressive lawmakers and activists voiced their anger, arguing that the deal concedes too much power to the Trump administration. Some House Democrats, particularly members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, see this as a breaking point—one that could set the stage for a major political showdown in New York, according to Trending Politics.

Ocasio-Cortez, a vocal leader of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, has not confirmed whether she will challenge Schumer in the 2026 primary. However, sources within the party suggest that frustration with Senate leadership is growing rapidly.

CNN reports that some House Democrats are encouraging Ocasio-Cortez to enter the race, arguing that Schumer’s stance on the funding bill shows a willingness to compromise at the expense of key Democratic priorities. One congressional source described colleagues as being “so mad” about Schumer’s decision that even some moderates are willing to support a primary challenge.

“We still have an opportunity to correct course here, and that is my number one priority,” Ocasio-Cortez said when asked about a potential Senate bid.

Schumer defended his support for the Republican bill, arguing that failing to pass the resolution would result in greater harm to federal employees and government programs.

“While the Republican bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse,” Schumer said Thursday. “It doesn’t address far too many of this country’s needs, but I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power in a government shutdown is a far worse option.”

Schumer suggested that rejecting the bill would give President Trump and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk greater leverage over federal spending decisions. He framed his vote as a necessary step to prevent what he described as a more damaging scenario for the government and its employees.

Ocasio-Cortez took to social media to express her frustration with Schumer’s decision.

It is not the time to “completely roll over and give up on protecting the Constitution,” she wrote on X, per TP. “We have time to correct course on this decision.

“Senate Democrats can vote no. We can correct course, and that is the most important thing in front of us right now.”

The congresswoman also emphasized that many House Democrats took political risks to defend programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, only to see Senate Democrats capitulate.

“There are members of Congress who have won Trump-held districts in some of the most difficult territory in the United States who walked the plank and took innumerable risks in order to defend the American people,” she said. “Just to see Senate Democrats even consider acquiescing to Elon Musk, I think is a huge slap in the face.”

Ocasio-Cortez first gained national recognition in 2018 when she unseated former House Democratic Caucus Chair Joseph Crowley (D-NY) in a major political upset. Since then, she has remained a prominent figure in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, often challenging the party’s establishment.

If she launches a primary campaign against Schumer, it could become one of the most high-profile Democratic battles in recent history.

Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Leave a Comment