Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey (D) suggested that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) should step down from leadership during a raucous town hall on Tuesday following Schumer’s vote in support of a GOP government funding measure last week.
“I respect Chuck Schumer. I think he had a great, long-standing career,” Ivey told constituents at a forum in his district. “But I’m afraid it may be time for Senate Democrats to choose a new leader.”
Ivey is the latest Democrat to hit Schumer over voting for a House GOP-drafted funding measure last week that would keep the government open through September. Last week, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) shaded Schumer over the vote in a statement, calling on Democrats “to fight back for a better way.”
Only ten Senate Democrats and one House Democrat voted yes on the measure.
Ivey took heat from attendees over the Democratic Party’s response to the Trump administration at Tuesday evening’s forum.
“You are talking about voting. The House is on fire,” shouted one attendee.
“You are too calm. Show some fire like you’re trying to fight for the American people,” she continued, calling the forum “bulls—-.”
Another attendee told Ivey he needed to be “a little bit less polite” when it comes to facing off with Republicans.
“We need you to be a little bit more hell no instead of a little bit no,” the attendee said to applause.
“Fair enough,” Ivey responded.
“We need to show greater resistance than what we are showing now,” the attendee said.
Town halls have become a focal point of political headlines in recent weeks. House Republicans have been pressed by attendees over a series of issues including potential cuts to Medicaid and Social Security, as well as the actions of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency led by tech mogul Elon Musk.
