Senate Democrats

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Pelosi to Schumer: 'Don't Give Away Anything for Nothing'

House Democrat comes out with direct rebuke over vote on spending bill

(Newser) - The hits from his own party just keep coming for Chuck Schumer, with the latest shot across the bow over his support of the Republicans' spending plan coming from longtime ally Nancy Pelosi, in what Politico terms as "Schumer bashing has gone mainstream." The former House Speaker minced...

Schumer Postpones Book Tour After Backlash

Progressive groups had planned to protest his decision to support GOP-led spending bill

(Newser) - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has shut down his book tour amid anger over his vote to prevent a government shutdown. The Democrat had been scheduled to appear in Baltimore; Washington, DC; New York City; Philadelphia; Los Angeles; and San Francisco this week to promote his new book Antisemitism in ...

Schumer Defends Shutdown Strategy in Op-Ed

One Senate Democrat says it's like giving a bully 'all of your lunch money'

(Newser) - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised enough Democratic support to pass the Republican funding bill that will avoid a government shutdown, despite admitting the bill is "terrible." In a guest essay at the New York Times , he explains himself while calling President Trump a "nihilist" who'...

Democrats Are in a Shutdown Pickle
Democrats Are in
a Shutdown Pickle
Mar 13, 2025 6:22 AM CDT

Democrats Are in a Shutdown Pickle

They don't want to vote for the GOP spending measure, but fear the alternative is worse

(Newser) - The government will shut down at midnight Friday unless Congress passes a spending measure before then, and the deadline is putting Senate Democrats in a bind: They don't want to vote for the GOP-authored resolution before them, but they fear the alternative of triggering a shutdown is worse. Coverage:...

Senate Democrats Take Another Hit on the Chin

Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire will not run for reelection, setting up a battle for her seat

(Newser) - Jeanne Shaheen, a three-term senator from New Hampshire, will not run for reelection in 2026, reports the New York Times . "It was a difficult decision, made more difficult by the current environment in the country—by President Trump and what he's doing right now. ... It's just time,...

For Senate Democrats, Bad News Out of Michigan

Sen. Gary Peters won't seek a third term, throwing the party for a loop

(Newser) - US Sen. Gary Peters, who led the Democrats' Senate campaign efforts the past two election cycles, has announced he will not seek a third term in Michigan in 2026, creating a highly contested battleground seat. The 66-year-old's decision Tuesday to step aside after just two terms comes as a...

'I Do Not Believe That You Are Qualified'

Pete Hegseth, defense nominee grilled at Senate hearing, cites a 'smear campaign' against him

(Newser) - Pete Hegseth was getting grilled on Capitol Hill Tuesday in his confirmation hearing to be the next defense secretary. At the same time, the former Fox host defended himself against what he calls a "smear campaign" by the media. Some early highlights:
  • Critic: "I do not believe that
...

Manchin Calls Democrats 'Toxic' on His Way Out

The party has moved away from its roots, outgoing senator says

(Newser) - As he leaves the position he was elected to as a Democrat before officially becoming an independent this year, Sen. Joe Manchin suggested it's his former party that changed. Progressives have pulled the party away from basic issues such as "good job, a good pay," he said,...

Sinema Is Blunt About Democratic Criticism

One-term senator leaves with her former party upset about NLRB vote

(Newser) - Democrats may not miss Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who suggested on her way out the Capitol door that the sentiment is mutual. The one-term senator left the party outraged this month when she—along with outgoing Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin—blocked an attempt to lock up Democratic control of the...

Senate Report Declares Court Has an 'Ethical Crisis'

Investigation puts worth of Thomas' gifts in the millions

(Newser) - A report released Saturday by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee after a 20-month investigation declares the Supreme Court "has mired itself in an ethical crisis of its own making." The report lists a series of ethical lapses and failures and estimates the value of gifts accepted by...

Senate Loss Raises Question for Democrats

Time is running out to nominate and confirm a successor before the GOP takes control

(Newser) - As Democrats look around for steps to take before they lose control of the White House and Senate in January, their gaze has fallen on Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Even if she resigns, nominating and confirming a Democratic pick to succeed the 70-year-old would be difficult and appears unlikely,...

Bob Menendez's Senate Career Is Over

His resignation took effect Tuesday, a month after bribery conviction

(Newser) - New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez's Senate career came to a close Tuesday, capping roughly five decades in Democratic politics that took him from the local school board to chair of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, just over a month after a jury convicted him on federal bribery charges...

Menendez Files to Seek Reelection as an Independent
Convicted Menendez
Removes Name From Ballot
UPDATED
Aug 16, 2024 3:55 PM CDT

Convicted Menendez Removes Name From Ballot

New Jersey Democrat was still there as an independent, which could have fouled things up for his party

(Newser) - Sen. Bob Menendez, newly convicted of corruption , won't run for reelection after all. The New Jersey Democrat ended his independent candidacy on Friday, reports Politico . Menendez is resigning next week at the urging of Democratic Party leaders, but until Friday, he remained on November ballot as an independent. His...

Ex-Democrat Calls on Biden to Leave Race

Joe Manchin, now an independent, urges president to 'pass the torch'

(Newser) - Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat turned independent, urged President Biden on Sunday to drop his reelection bid and focus on the remaining months of his presidency. "I came to the decision with a heavy heart that I think it's time to pass the torch to a new generation,...

Bob Menendez: I'm Not Going Anywhere

New Jersey senator says he's not quitting, but some Democrats are open to expelling him

(Newser) - Sen. Bob Menendez has denied reports that he's planning to bow to pressure from fellow Democrats and resign after being convicted on corruption charges . On Wednesday, NBC News , citing "two people directly familiar with the conversations," reported that Menendez had told allies he was preparing to resign,...

Dem Senators Want Special Counsel for Clarence Thomas

Whitehouse, Wyden ask AG Garland to investigate Thomas' 'suspicious silence' over gifts

(Newser) - After a slew of jarring stories tying Clarence Thomas to multiple undisclosed gifts, loans, and other perks from ultra-wealthy friends, two Democratic senators are now trying to get to the bottom of it. The Hill reports that Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ron Wyden of Oregon have requested...

Senate Republicans Keep IVF Protections From a Vote

GOP argues the Democratic bill isn't needed and back a more limited one

(Newser) - A Democratic attempt to codify protections for in vitro fertilization hit a Republican wall in the Senate on Thursday, with GOP opponents calling the measure unnecessary. "Why should we vote for a bill that fixes a nonexistent problem? There's not a problem," Sen. John Cornyn told reporters,...

Senate's Second-Oldest Is Running for Re-Election
Bernie Sanders
Is Running Again
May 6, 2024 12:53 PM CDT

Bernie Sanders Is Running Again

82-year-old Vermont independent will seek a 4th Senate term he's all but guaranteed to win

(Newser) - At the ripe old age of 82, Bernie Sanders is definitely not trying to retire. As the Hill reports, the Independent senator from Vermont is seeking a fourth term this year, and he's likely to get it, having won his three previous terms handily. A victory would keep Sanders...

Menendez May Blame His Wife: Court Doc

Per unsealed filing, Dem senator may implicate Nadine Menendez in bribery trial set for May

(Newser) - Bob Menendez's bribery trial is looming in May, and a March court filing unsealed this week reveals what part of his defense may entail: throwing his wife, Nadine Menendez, under the bus. Politico reports that the court document released on Tuesday by order of Judge Sidney Stein sought to...

Menendez, Wife Plead Not Guilty
Menendez, Wife Back in Court
Mar 11, 2024 11:50 AM CDT

Menendez, Wife Back in Court

Senator from New Jersey pleads not guilty to new obstruction of justice charges

(Newser) - Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife pleaded not guilty on Monday to new obstruction of justice charges in a New York court. The new charges were in a rewritten indictment returned last week against the Democrat in Manhattan federal court. "Once again, not guilty your honor," Menendez responded...

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