In a surprising turn of events, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Jewish New Yorker who has long been a stalwart of the Democratic Party, is facing a significant challenge from within his own demographic.
Schumer, who has represented New York City in the House, the state in the Senate, and later became the first Jewish leader of the upper chamber of Congress, is losing ground in primary polls among New York City Democrats, particularly Jewish Democrats.
His challenger? None other than Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who has referred to Israel's conflict with Hamas as "genocide" and supports the controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.
As reported by the New York Post, a poll conducted by the Honan Strategy Group for the Jewish Voters Action Network shows Ocasio-Cortez leading Schumer 54 percent to 33 percent among all New York City Democratic voters.
Among Jewish voters, Ocasio-Cortez holds a 45 percent to 38 percent lead. The poll, conducted between May 15-18 among 1,136 Democrats, suggests a significant shift in support away from Schumer, a veteran politician with considerable influence in the Senate.
Maury Litwack, one of the co-founders of the Jewish Voters Action Network, described the poll results as a "massive wake-up call for Schumer." He noted that Schumer is losing support not only within the Democratic Party but also within the Jewish community. The potential challenge from Ocasio-Cortez appears to be a fait accompli unless there is a dramatic shift in the political landscape.
Schumer, who has historically opposed government shutdowns instigated by the Republican Party, recently capitulated to GOP budgetary demands. This move has incensed left-leaning Democrats, who have begun discussing the possibility of replacing Schumer.
Despite the fact that Schumer's stance on government shutdowns has generally been validated by history - with shutdowns often costing the government more in the long run than the savings they were intended to achieve - his capitulation has been seen as a betrayal by some within his party.
The Democratic Party, however, seems to be lacking a cohesive plan for moving forward. Instead of focusing on pragmatic goals and preparing for the midterms and the 2028 elections, the party appears to be fixated on ousting Schumer. Ocasio-Cortez, who is reportedly preparing for a 2028 presidential run, is the most likely candidate to challenge Schumer.
Recent polls suggest that Ocasio-Cortez has a strong chance of unseating Schumer, particularly if the current level of anger within the party persists. An April survey from Data for Progress showed Ocasio-Cortez leading statewide by a 55 to 36 percent margin. The latest poll, conducted in New York City, shows that this anger has not subsided.
Despite these polls, there are those who might dismiss them as biased or unrepresentative. Data for Progress is a left-leaning organization, and the latest poll only surveyed New York City, which, while being a stronghold of left-leaning voters, only represents a portion of the state's population.
However, as early as March, when Schumer capitulated to GOP demands, there were reports of party insiders supporting Ocasio-Cortez. One senior House Democrat even compared Schumer's popularity to that of Elon Musk and the Ebola virus, suggesting that Schumer's influence within the party is waning.
The potential rise of Ocasio-Cortez, however, is not without its concerns, particularly for New York's Jewish community. The recent terrorist attack on two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., underscores the high stakes involved. Schumer's failure to confront the rising tide of anti-Semitism within his party, particularly in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks, has not gone unnoticed.
As Litwack pointed out, "The leading Jewish elected official in the nation did not step up in a moment of rising anti-Semitism and the poll reflects that." These poll results suggest that the Democratic Party may be facing a reckoning, with the potential rise of Senator Ocasio-Cortez signaling a significant shift in the party's direction.
As the saying goes, the chickens are coming home to roost. New York, prepare for a potential seismic shift in your political landscape.
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