Graham Platner, the oyster farmer and progressive Democrat who is running for Senate in Maine, says Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has “failed” to keep his caucus unified against a government funding bill that doesn’t extend health insurance subsidies and should step down as leader.
“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 said in a short video clip his campaign posted on social platform X.
Platner blamed the Democratic leader for the outcome, even though Schumer and most Senate Democrats voted against a procedural motion to advance a government funding package that would end 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 said, standing under a green umbrella in rainy New England weather.
“Call in today, call your senators. … Call your senators and say that Chuck Schumer can no longer be leader,” he said.
Platner is running in a Senate primary against Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Schumer’s top recruit to flip the seat now held by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Schumer has taken heat from House progressives, as well, over the defection of eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus who voted Sunday to proceed to a House-passed bill to reopen government, which will serve as the legislative vehicle to a bipartisan Senate funding proposal.
Schumer voted against the funding bill, as did 39 other members of the Democratic caucus.
Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.), a progressive Democrat representing Silicon Valley, called 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.), another leading House progressive, also 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 floor that Democrats scored a major victory during the shutdown by elevating the issue of rising health care costs and the refusal by Republicans to extend 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 said.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) on Monday defended Schumer for waging a “valiant” fight to extend the health care subsidies.
“Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats over the last seven weeks have waged a valiant fight on behalf of the American people,” he told reporters in the Capitol.
