Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told The Washington Sun he already has more than enough support to become majority leader again, saying, “I am going to be elected leader.”
It remains unclear what exactly the whip count is — particularly since the number of Democrats in the Senate has not been made official yet, although it is widely expected to be 56, with Mary Peltola of Alaska and Scott Colom of Mississippi strongly favored to be certified the winners after final vote tallies.
Caucus rules don’t allow a vote on the Senate leader until December. Meanwhile, progressive Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) hasn’t ruled out a challenge to Schumer.
According to The Sun, Schumer is already thinking ahead to how Democrats might expand their majority in 2028, even entertaining the thought of winning 60 seats, which would give Democrats power to override Republican filibusters on any legislation they wanted as long as they vote unanimously.
"If we win four more seats, wow!" Schumer told The Sun's Paul Kane. "Not predicting we will, it's too early to tell, but that would be amazing."