Analyst Says Schumer ‘May Have To Quit’ If AOC Launches 2028 Senate Bid
Political commentator Mark Halperin suggested on Friday that Senator Chuck Schumer could be forced to bow out of the 2028 Democratic primary if Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez decides to run against him.
Citing a report by NBC News, Halperin noted there’s growing pressure—both publicly and privately—from within the Democratic Party urging Ocasio-Cortez to challenge Schumer should he seek another term. During his appearance on The Morning Meeting, Halperin explained that Ocasio-Cortez would be able to mount a compelling campaign that could put Schumer in a difficult position, according to the Daily Caller.
“If she ran against him, I know exactly what she would say to try to beat him,” Halperin said. “It’s very hard for me to imagine how Schumer could come back because the way to try to beat her would be to go negative on her — ‘she’s inexperienced, she’s too left-wing.’ It seems to me that all that would backfire. And so I think if she runs against him, he has to quit the race because I don’t think he can defend himself against her.”
Halperin referenced a recent poll that showed Ocasio-Cortez ahead of Schumer in a hypothetical primary matchup. While he acknowledged that “it’s not necessarily the greatest poll in the world,” the numbers show a significant lead for the congresswoman: 55% to 36%, according to Data for Progress.
As Senate minority leader, Schumer has come under increased scrutiny from his own party, particularly after aligning with Republicans to pass a temporary funding bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown.
Veteran political strategist Mark Penn, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton, warned back in March that a potential challenge from Ocasio-Cortez could have devastating consequences for the Democratic Party.
“I don’t think she’s going to challenge Schumer, but if she does, I mean, already the Democratic ratings are down to 29%. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Penn said. “That means the left base is with the Democratic Party and the moderates are all leaving the party. So AOC taking off Schumer, wow, that could finish this party off. This could put it into the wilderness the way the Labour Party was for a decade.”
Surveys from CNN/SSRS and NBC News published in March support his concern, showing Democratic Party approval ratings at just 29% and 27%, respectively—historic lows.
Some experts believe Schumer may ultimately step aside from his leadership post before pressure becomes overwhelming. Danielle Vinson, a political science professor at Furman University, told Newsweek last month that Schumer might opt for a “graceful exit” before his term ends in early 2029. She added that it’s unlikely he would be forcibly “tossed out” by fellow Democrats.
Schumer's March 14 vote in favor of a GOP-supported stopgap spending measure—alongside eight other Senate Democrats and independent Senator Angus King, who caucuses with them—sparked backlash from many within his party.
At 74, Schumer faces growing calls for generational change, with Ocasio-Cortez, nearly four decades his junior, seen as a symbol of the progressive movement’s future—especially after the party's disappointing performance in the 2024 election cycle.
Vinson said Schumer is likely aware of the shifting mood and could face stronger calls to resign, especially depending on how the 2026 midterms play out, which could “encourage and challenge” him further to step aside.
When asked about Schumer during a town hall on March 17 in Golden, Colorado, Senator Michael Bennet remarked, “It’s important that people know when it’s time to go.”
And on March 16, Representative Glenn Ivey of Maryland echoed the sentiment, saying it “may be time” for new Senate leadership after Schumer supported a continuing resolution that House Democrats overwhelmingly rejected.