Petitions to replace Schumer as Senate Democratic leader pass 100,000 signatures in a day

Two petitions urging Senate Democrats to choose a new leader instead of Chuck Schumer have passed 100,000 signatures. Both were created on Wednesday, the day after the midterm election, when Democrats won the House and Senate ¹.

One petition, titled "Senate Democrats: CHOOSE A NEW MAJORITY LEADER," had 43,446 verified signatures. A second, "Replace Chuck Schumer as Senate Majority Leader," had 75,402 as of 9:23 p.m. Eastern on Thursday ¹. Added together, that is about 118,800, though some people may have signed both. Newsweek reported the figures ¹.

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What the petitions say

The first petition says "Democratic leadership should represent Democratic voters, not just the Democratic establishment." The second says Schumer "folds when it matters." It also notes that new senators, including Maine's Troy Jackson and Kansas' Adam Hamilton, have said publicly that they won't back him ¹.

The second petition also criticizes Schumer for opposing former President Barack Obama's Iran nuclear deal and for reportedly taking pro-Israel lobby money. OpenSecrets, a political money-tracking group, lists Schumer as a "pro-Israel" recipient of $1,727,974 from 1990 to 2024 ¹. Those are the petition's claims and a donor tally. Neither is a ruling on how he would lead.

From Channel GOPChuck Schumer: Democrats have won the SenateChuck Schumer · 168 plays · captioned, with the source named

Schumer and the new senators

Asked Wednesday about incoming senators who won't back him, Schumer dismissed the question. Newsweek said it asked his office for comment Thursday night ¹.

The issue is not me. I'll be reelected as majority leader. But the issue is focusing on the American people and what they want.

Some of the incoming senators disagree. Annie Andrews of South Carolina told Fox News that "it's time for a generational change on both sides of the aisle." Minnesota Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan said she thinks it is time for new leadership ¹.

I think it’s time for new leadership.

Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed did not commit to backing Schumer. He told CNN he would strongly support Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen if Van Hollen sought the job ¹. Before the election, Illinois nominee Juliana Stratton also said she would not support Schumer as leader ².

A similar push against Jeffries

A separate petition asks House Democrats not to back Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for speaker. It had 762,343 verified signatures as of 9:10 p.m. Thursday ¹. Its organizer, Nicole Whitted, is a paid "Change Ambassador" for the petition site, according to the petition's own disclosure ¹.

The petition urges every member of the incoming 120th Congress to vote against Jeffries in January 2027. Actor Mark Ruffalo shared it on X ¹.

What happens next

Online petitions do not choose leaders. Senate Democrats pick theirs in a private vote among the members themselves. The petitions show how much pressure some Democratic voters are putting on the party's leaders now that it holds the Senate.

That matters because the new majority leader will help set the Senate's agenda for the last two years of President Donald Trump's term. Schumer has said he expects to keep the job ¹.

The Record

1. Nov 3, 2026Democrats won the House and Senate in the midterm election ¹.
2. Nov 4, 2026Two petitions to replace Schumer were created, and Schumer said he would be reelected as majority leader ¹.
3. Nov 5, 2026The two petitions together passed 100,000 verified signatures ¹.

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<h2>Petitions to replace Schumer as Senate Democratic leader pass 100,000 signatures in a day</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Investigations Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/petitions-to-replace-schumer-as-senate-democratic-leader-pass-100-000-signatures">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 5, 2026.</em></p> <p>Two petitions urging Senate Democrats to choose a new leader instead of Chuck Schumer have passed 100,000 signatures. Both were created on Wednesday, the day after the midterm election, when Democrats won the House and Senate .</p> <p>One petition, titled &quot;Senate Democrats: CHOOSE A NEW MAJORITY LEADER,&quot; had 43,446 verified signatures. A second, &quot;Replace Chuck Schumer as Senate Majority Leader,&quot; had 75,402 as of 9:23 p.m. Eastern on Thursday . Added together, that is about 118,800, though some people may have signed both. Newsweek reported the figures .</p> <h2>What the petitions say</h2> <p>The first petition says &quot;Democratic leadership should represent Democratic voters, not just the Democratic establishment.&quot; The second says Schumer &quot;folds when it matters.&quot; It also notes that new senators, including Maine&#39;s Troy Jackson and Kansas&#39; Adam Hamilton, have said publicly that they won&#39;t back him .</p> <p>The second petition also criticizes Schumer for opposing former President Barack Obama&#39;s Iran nuclear deal and for reportedly taking pro-Israel lobby money. OpenSecrets, a political money-tracking group, lists Schumer as a &quot;pro-Israel&quot; recipient of $1,727,974 from 1990 to 2024 . Those are the petition&#39;s claims and a donor tally. Neither is a ruling on how he would lead.</p> <h2>Schumer and the new senators</h2> <p>Asked Wednesday about incoming senators who won&#39;t back him, Schumer dismissed the question. Newsweek said it asked his office for comment Thursday night .</p> <blockquote><p>The issue is not me. I&#39;ll be reelected as majority leader. But the issue is focusing on the American people and what they want.</p><p>&mdash; Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic leader, D-New York</p></blockquote> <p>Some of the incoming senators disagree. Annie Andrews of South Carolina told Fox News that &quot;it&#39;s time for a generational change on both sides of the aisle.&quot; Minnesota Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan said she thinks it is time for new leadership .</p> <blockquote><p>I think it’s time for new leadership.</p><p>&mdash; Peggy Flanagan, Senator-elect, D-Minnesota</p></blockquote> <p>Michigan&#39;s Abdul El-Sayed did not commit to backing Schumer. He told CNN he would strongly support Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen if Van Hollen sought the job . Before the election, Illinois nominee Juliana Stratton also said she would not support Schumer as leader .</p> <h2>A similar push against Jeffries</h2> <p>A separate petition asks House Democrats not to back Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for speaker. It had 762,343 verified signatures as of 9:10 p.m. Thursday . Its organizer, Nicole Whitted, is a paid &quot;Change Ambassador&quot; for the petition site, according to the petition&#39;s own disclosure .</p> <p>The petition urges every member of the incoming 120th Congress to vote against Jeffries in January 2027. Actor Mark Ruffalo shared it on X .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Online petitions do not choose leaders. Senate Democrats pick theirs in a private vote among the members themselves. The petitions show how much pressure some Democratic voters are putting on the party&#39;s leaders now that it holds the Senate.</p> <p>That matters because the new majority leader will help set the Senate&#39;s agenda for the last two years of President Donald Trump&#39;s term. Schumer has said he expects to keep the job .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/petitions-to-replace-schumer-as-senate-democratic-leader-pass-100-000-signatures">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/petitions-to-replace-schumer-as-senate-democratic-leader-pass-100-000-signatures.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “Petitions to Replace Chuck Schumer Pass 100,000 Signatures Day After Launch” (2026-11-06). newsweek.com/petitions-to-replace-chuck-schumer-pass-100000-
2. Newsweek, “Full list of Democrats rallying against Chuck Schumer in the Senate” (2026-08-01). newsweek.com/full-list-democrats-rallying-against-chuck-schu

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