Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) sidestepped a question about whether Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should relinquish his leadership role after several Democrats broke ranks to back the GOP deal to reopen the government.
When asked on Wednesday whether Schumer should step down as Senate Democratic leader, the socialist congresswoman gave a lengthy answer that avoided addressing the question directly.
“I think what’s important is that we understand that…a leader is a reflection of the party, and Senate Democrats have selected their leadership to represent them,” responded Ocasio-Cortez. “And so the question needs to be bigger than just one person. We have several Senate primaries this cycle. I know I’m being asked about New York. That is years from now. …We actually do have Senate elections this year, and my hope is that people across this country actually participate in their primary elections in selecting their leadership.”
Q: “Should Schumer stay as minority leader?”
.@RepAOC @AOC: “This problem is bigger than one person. It actually is bigger than the minority leader in the Senate…A leader is a reflection of the party and Senate Democrats have selected their leadership to represent them.” pic.twitter.com/5cPi5GQzov
— CSPAN (@cspan) November 12, 2025
Schumer faced heavy criticism from fellow Democrats this week after eight Democratic senators joined Republicans on Sunday to advance a continuing resolution to fund the government. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) defected and joined Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), and John Fetterman (D-PA), who had previously voted to allow the House-passed CR to go forward.
By backing the GOP plan, the eight Democrats gave up a guaranteed extension of Covid-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies and settled instead for Senate GOP Leader John Thune’s promise to hold a vote on the issue “no later than the second week in December.”
Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton (R-AR) argued that Schumer nearly forced a shutdown because he fears a potential primary challenge from Ocasio-Cortez.
“Chuck Schumer is shutting down the government because he’s terrified of a primary from AOC,” said Cotton. “His actions are disgraceful.”
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