General Discussion

Takket

(23,349 posts) Tue Nov 11, 2025, 01:18 PM Tuesday

Can Senate Democrats have a "vote of no confidence" in Schumer?

Is there a mechanism to do that? How does it work?

One idea I have heard proposed is that Democrats should pressure their Senators that are up for primaries in 2026 to promise they will vote for their Senator's primary challenger if they do not support a change in Senate leadership. This takes the very much intentional move Senate Dems made of insulating the "yes" voters (making sure no one voting yes was up for election in 2026) and turning partial responsibility back onto people that ARE up for a primary. Unfortunately, that isn't something I can do. I live in Michigan. One of my senators is retiring and the other was just elected in 2024.

Of course, i would consider a primary threat for these reasons to not be necessary if the Dems just replace their leadership in the Senate now.

A change in leadership won't undo the betrayal of the Democratic party and out ideals that happened over the weekend, but it will help bring back some of the people we have lost over the weekend. And from what I've seen out there online in the last few days, that is a non-trivial number of people.

11 replies

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Can Senate Democrats have a "vote of no confidence" in Schumer? (Original Post) Takket Tuesday OP

Maybe within parties' caucuses, it's different rules than the House. I doubt anything will come of it. nt yaesu Tuesday #1

Technically no, that's only used in parliamentary systems. Ocelot II Tuesday #2

Senate Democrats could sack him this afternoon if they wanted to. It's just that they don't want to. tritsofme Tuesday #3

Lawrence O'Donnell knows how the Senate works and he disagrees LetMyPeopleVote Tuesday #4

I have been . . . Scubamatt Tuesday #5

Here is a thought. Elect more Democrats bottomofthehill Tuesday #6

Need more Manchins, Sinemas, Fettermans! leftstreet Tuesday #8

Let's see bottomofthehill Tuesday #11

to what end? Groundhawg Tuesday #7

That seems very unlikely to me. MineralMan Tuesday #9

I Have a Feeling No One Actually Wants the Job Aepps22 Tuesday #10

yaesu

(8,807 posts)

1. Maybe within parties' caucuses, it's different rules than the House. I doubt anything will come of it. nt

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 01:24 PM

Tuesday

Ocelot II

(128,249 posts)

2. Technically no, that's only used in parliamentary systems.

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 01:27 PM

Tuesday

The Speaker of the House can be removed by a motion to vacate, but the Senate doesn't have a similar procedure. However, the minority and majority leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses. But any Democratic Senator could force a vote on the leader's control of the caucus by making a motion to amend the Democratic caucus rules to provide that he should lose his leadership position if a set number of members agree. I suppose that could be the equivalent of a no-confidence vote.

tritsofme

(19,727 posts)

3. Senate Democrats could sack him this afternoon if they wanted to. It's just that they don't want to.

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 01:28 PM

Tuesday

LetMyPeopleVote

(172,486 posts)

4. Lawrence O'Donnell knows how the Senate works and he disagrees

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 02:30 PM

Tuesday

O'Donnell has been in the Senate luncheon meetings and knows how the Senate works. I agree with O'Donnell's assessment.

@lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com: With Trump's shutdown ending, Dems are closer than ever to forcing Epstein files release youtu.be/Eqe0Suhoats?...
— The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell (@lastword.msnbc.com) 2025-11-11T04:47:54.019Z

Scubamatt

(236 posts)

5. I have been . . .

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 02:37 PM

Tuesday

an ardent critic of Schumer because of the surrender, but I don't recommend this public display (even if it's allowed). All it will do is feed the "Dems in Disarray" that the media is just chomping at the bit to replay. Rather, why not have credible candidates announce that they will be primary-ing every Dem who voted for this travesty (those who have the spine to run again), flanked by those leaders who stood by this fight despite the betrayal. Sends the same message with much more powerful framing.

bottomofthehill

(9,310 posts)

6. Here is a thought. Elect more Democrats

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 02:57 PM

Tuesday

As President Obama was fond of saying, “don’t complain, VOTE’. None of the his is an issue if the Democratic Leader is scheduling the Senate

leftstreet

(38,208 posts)

8. Need more Manchins, Sinemas, Fettermans!

Reply to bottomofthehill (Reply #6)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 03:17 PM

Tuesday

oh wait...

bottomofthehill

(9,310 posts)

11. Let's see

Reply to leftstreet (Reply #8)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 04:48 PM

Tuesday

Manchin gone, Republican pick up

Yes, if I lived in West Virginia I would have voted for him again

Conner Lamb was too centrist for many here. Do you think we would be better off with him or Fetterman. Let’s be honest, Fetterman was the liberal darling

The Sinema seat was an upgrade but could have been a Republican pick up.

Groundhawg

(1,187 posts)

7. to what end?

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 03:15 PM

Tuesday

MineralMan

(150,208 posts)

9. That seems very unlikely to me.

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 03:24 PM

Tuesday

It won't happen.

What probably will happen is that Schumer will be re-elected by New York voters at the end of his current term.

His term as Senator ends in 2028. If he is not re-elected, that will be the end of his long tenure as a Senator. He is very unlikely to be censured by anyone, frankly.

Aepps22

(366 posts)

10. I Have a Feeling No One Actually Wants the Job

Reply to Takket (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2025, 03:45 PM

Tuesday

I don’t think a lot of them even want the job.

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