CNN host Dana Bash questioned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, on Sunday over whether it’s time for him to step down, asking, “Why don’t you think it’s time to pass the torch?”

Newsweek has reached out to Schumer’s press team for comment via email on Sunday.

Why It Matters

Bash’s question about Schumer’s continued leadership comes after four Senate Democrats, including most recently Democratic Whip Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, have announced their retirement. Their departures come as the Democratic Party works to recover and rebrand following President Donald Trump‘s and Republicans‘ electoral victories in November, which gave the GOP control of both chambers of Congress and the White House.

The scale of Trump’s triumph has sparked widespread soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong and how to rebuild. Democratic leaders have come under criticism from within the party, notably Schumer and a handful of other Democrats for recently supporting a Republican-led stopgap funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. The continuing resolution (CR), which is in its reconciliation period, highlighted divisions among Democrats.

What To Know

On a Sunday appearance on CNN‘s State of the Union, Schumer took aim at Trump over his economic policies and first three months in office, telling Bash, “The American people are furious, the promises Trump made are far different than the how it’s been effectuated and that’s why his 100 days are a disaster.”

Tuesday, April 29, marks Trump’s 100th day in office, a milestone often used to gauge public opinion and sentiment toward a president as they showcase their achievements.

A series of recent polls, including a New York Times/Siena College poll and an AP-NORC survey, show Americans’ support for Trump’s handling of the economy has soured. Recent averages of his approval rating have slipped, with Gallup polling putting Trump’s second-term job approval rating at 44 percent, down 3 points from his inauguration. His approval is lower than former President Joe Biden‘s 57 percent at the 100-day mark.

Bash turned to the Democratic Party, telling Schumer, “There’s a lot of frustration towards members of your party, not just from voters, but we’re even hearing it from members of your own caucus.” She then played a segment of Senator Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, saying, “In my view our [the Democratic Party’s] inability to offer a compelling vision and articulate it to the American people has resulted in Donald Trump being elected not just once but twice.”

Schumer insisted that the caucus is “doing very well, we are totally united in focusing on Trump on a single message, for instance on tariffs, how chaotic they are and they have to be focused, on rule of law, how he’s not obeying it, we’re showing that to the American people, but also on this upcoming reconciliation bill, where we democrats have a single message where Trump is trying to make middle class Americans pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”

Schumer came under fire by some Democrats last month over the budget bill that he eventually supported, with some in the party calling it “appeasement” towards Republicans and Trump. The caucus was not united in its response, as only nine Democrats broke with the party to support the bill.

Schumer maintained that his support of the CR would prevent worse damage to the federal government from Trump and billionaire Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) adviser Elon Musk. Schumer said that a government shutdown would allow them to ramp up their efforts to make cuts across federal agencies.

Throughout the conversation with Bash, he repeated that the Democratic Party is “really united and focused and strong” adding that “I think we are on our front foot.”

Bash noted Durbin’s retirement, saying to Schumer, “There’s the message sir, and then there’s the messenger,” then asking the longtime lawmaker, who was first elected to the Senate in 1998, “why don’t you think it’s time to pass the torch?”

Schumer responded: “Look, I am focused on winning, as I have always been.” He noted that as the “sort of orchestral leader” of the caucus his role is to highlight talent.

Bash jumped in to clarify and asked: “You’re staying put?”

“Yes, I am staying put. I am fighting the fight every day,” Schumer said.

What People Are Saying

Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said in an X, formerly Twitter, post on April 23: “The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term.”

Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, wrote in an X post in March: “When the Senate Minority Leader sells you out, the only option is to take back the party & country with grassroots activists in blue and red disricts [sic] to stand up for the Constitution and our democracy. The problem with Schumer’s action — like Lucy pulling the ball away every time before Charlie Brown kicks it — is it makes all Congressional Dems look feckless & undermines trust.”

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social in March: “Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing—Took ‘guts’ and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights. Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer.”

Charlotte Clymer, a Democratic operative, told Newsweek in March: “This is not a problem of our party; it’s a problem of our party leadership. There is so much outstanding potential in the Democratic Party. What we need is fresh leadership.”

What Happens Next?

Democrats are hoping for a successful 2026 midterm elections. So far, four Senate Democrats have announced they will not be running for reelection, Senators Durbin, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Gary Peters of Michigan and Tina Smith of Minnesota.

Schumer has maintained he will be running for reelection, although there have been calls for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, to primary him in 2028.

Committees are set to complete their markups and recommendations for the budget bill by May 9.