Democrats rally against Schumer's proposal, with Ocasio-Cortez leading the charge, as private conversations reveal some colleagues suggesting a primary contest
New Take:
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York went public on Thursday, voicing her displeasure towards Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's decision to endorse the House GOP funding bill. Dubbing it as an "acquiesce," Ocasio-Cortez declared her intent to rouse her legion of supporters in combat against this move.
Addressing reporters in Leesburg, Virginia, during the annual policy retreat of House Democrats, she expressed a surge of indignation and disappointment among her Democratic peers. They're allegedly working overtime—texting, calling, even sending digital homing pigeons—to ignite a democratic uprising against Schumer's strategy.
She wasn't kind in her assessment of Senate Democrats, labeling their decision to embrace the GOP funding bill as a "'roll over' and give up" on defending the Constitution.
When questioned about the feasibility of Senate Democrats needing new leadership, Ocasio-Cortez minded her words, simply stating her focus lies on preventing her party from consenting to the GOP bill.
"We have room to adjust direction on this decision," she emphasized. "Senate Democrats can vote no, and that's the most crucial matter at hand now."
The New York Democrat has been a leading voice among Democratic officials, advocating staunchly against the House GOP funding bill. Leveraging her social media platforms, she's been urging Democrats countrywide to mount pressure on their own senators regarding the bill, a significant point of contention in President Donald Trump's second term.
Privately, House Democrats are reportedly seething at Schumer's decision so much that some have urged Ocasio-Cortez to take on Schumer in a primary, according to a Democratic member who conversed with her during the caucus' policy retreat. Many Democrats from the Congressional Progressive Caucus and others encouraged Ocasio-Cortez to run for the Senate seat on Thursday night, following Schumer's announcement.
This member revealed that Democrats in Leesburg were so enraged that even centrists were rumored to be considering donating funds for Ocasio-Cortez's Senate campaign, sharing that they've "never seen people so furious."
When confronted by CNN about fellow Democrats urging her to challenge Schumer, Ocasio-Cortez remained silent, focusing on her primary goal of keeping Democrats from backing the funding bill: "We've got a chance to correct this course here, and that's my top priority."
However, she let loose on reporters, voicing her resentment towards Senate Democrats for abstaining from a vote that almost all battleground House Democrats were prepared to endure.
"There are Congress members who have clinched Trump-held districts in some of the toughest territories in the U.S. who risked everything to defend the American people, to safeguard Social Security and Medicaid and Medicare," she told reporters. "To see Senate Democrats even consider capitulating to Elon Musk is a grave insult. And I think there's a widespread sense of betrayal if things continue along these lines."
- Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with some Democratic peers, has been communicating intensely to rally opposition against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's endorsement of the House GOP funding bill.
- Despite the ensuing tension within the Democratic party, Ocasio-Cortez has emphasized her focus on preventing fellow Democrats from consented to the GOP bill, rather than engaging in internal politics, such as challenging Schumer in a primary.
- During a gathering, centrist Democrats were even rumored to contemplate donating funds for Ocasio-Cortez's potential Senate campaign, showcasing the vast frustration within the party regarding the Senate Democrats' stance on the GOP funding bill.
