Schumer had little time to prepare: Democrats didn’t win a majority until Georgia’s second round in January. And the day Schumer learned he got the job, the Capitol was overrun by pro-Trump rioters. Your time to absorb the good news was limited to just a few hours.
That schedule meant an intensive course to lead the Senate alongside a White House and a Democratic House. Schumer is battle-tested for overseeing a generally united minority during the Trump years, although maintaining unity as a majority leader is always more challenging.
And with McConnell resisting the Senate’s organizational resolution, the degree of difficulty for Schumer became much greater.
“It’s unprecedented, really,” said Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), The third Democrat. “We had the perfect storm.”
“Sen. McConnell was the minority leader before. Senator Schumer was never the majority leader, ”added Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), A member of the Republican Party leadership. “One is reaching that point with a little more time to think about what exactly this job involves than the other.”
Schumer is so far making it clear that he is not giving in to McConnell’s requirement to include protection from legislative obstruction as part of any power-sharing agreement. During a private call on Thursday, Schumer told members that he was optimistic that he would reach an agreement with McConnell, according to a source on the call.
On Friday, he called McConnell’s proposal “unacceptable”. He also rejected McConnell’s request to postpone Trump’s trial until mid-February, and later that day reached an agreement with the Republican Party Leader to start the trial the week of February 8.
These movements were seen inside the caucus as a sign of strength.
“Chuck Schumer will continue to refuse to allow the minority to dictate how the majority will operate,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.).
Meanwhile, pressure from the left on Schumer to end the obstruction is only increasing as Republicans engage in major political struggles with the new Democratic majority.
Just Democracy, a coalition of more than 40 minority-led organizations, is launching advertisements in New York’s Times Square asking Schumer to remove the obstruction, according to details first shared with POLITICO. The announcement urges Schumer to “abolish the obstruction” and quotes Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.), describing him as “a tool appreciated by segregationists”.
Separately, Fix Our Senate, a group created to target McConnell, is also running a full-page ad with other supporters in this weekend’s New York Times calling for the obstruction to be removed. Senate Republicans say Schumer is facing an initial pinch between Biden’s bipartisan bromides and the voices of his own party that are pressing him to run over Republicans as soon as possible.
“What [Schumer] what you want to do is have it hanging over our heads like a sword of Damocles for some future event and I think it’s smart to settle this issue early, ”said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a close ally of McConnell. “I also understand the political pressure that President Biden and Schumer have on progressives and with the prospect of being promoted by AOC.”
But even if Schumer wanted to get rid of the obstructionist, he would have to overcome objections from moderates and possibly Biden himself.
Schumer’s top three immediate priorities are to fill the Biden Office, conduct the impeachment trial, and approve a major coronavirus aid package. But Republicans have resisted each of them to varying degrees, despite Biden’s hopes of working with the Republican Party.
At some point, Democrats may be frustrated enough to give up the obstruction. But, for now, the reserve plan for a stimulus measure is budget reconciliation, which escapes the requirement of the supermajority, but comes with some limits.
“I think we work through the committees until we can no longer do,” said Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a progressive senator about to take over the Banking Committee. “We keep trying until it doesn’t work. And then we do the reconciliation. “
Democrats say they have no illusions about McConnell. But they also hope that their personal relationship with Biden can lead to more cooperation than with former President Barack Obama. McConnell has so far worked with Democrats to ensure that Biden’s national security nominees are confirmed, although the pace is slower than that of most previous presidents.
“We have a feeling he has a good personal relationship with Biden that will be useful,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Who ignored McConnell’s attempt to influence Schumer in his early days as a majority leader. “Chuck is negotiating in a position of strength now.”
The fact that McConnell called for a longer delay in the trial, as well as concessions on how to run the Senate, hits some Democrats, as McConnell still tries to be the majority leader, although now is Schumer’s time. Just as Schumer is adjusting to lead the majority, Democrats say it may take some time for McConnell to get his hands off the wheel.
“I know it is difficult for him to accommodate in his new role, but you cannot be the leader of the majority if you are the leader of the minority,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
Laura Barrón-López contributed to this report.