Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat running in the Massachusetts Senate primary, has declared he will not support Sen. Chuck Schumer for Senate Democratic leader if elected. Moulton's remarks came during a debate Monday night, where he stated, "The first vote that I take when I get to the United States Senate will be for not Senator Schumer, because we need new leadership at the top as well."
Moulton is challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey for the nomination. Markey, when asked about his support for Schumer, also indicated a need for reassessment, saying, "We need a big debate about new leadership in the Senate – the direction of the Senate."
The Massachusetts Senate primary has been marked by sharp exchanges between Moulton and Markey. Moulton has criticized Markey's fundraising and tenure, while Markey has questioned Moulton's investments and past comments on social issues. This contest reflects a broader tension within the Democratic Party between younger, progressive candidates and the party establishment.
Moulton has a history of challenging party leadership, including a notable effort in 2018 to oppose Nancy Pelosi's bid for House Speaker. He has previously stated that Democratic leadership was "failing" in its opposition to former President Donald Trump.
While Schumer is not up for re-election until 2028, he faces a biennial internal election to retain his leadership position. Other Democratic figures have also recently expressed openness to new leadership. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut was non-committal when asked about supporting Schumer, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has called for Schumer to step aside. Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic socialist running in Michigan, also made a pointed comment about Schumer during a rally.
Schumer's office and Markey's campaign were contacted for comment regarding Moulton's remarks.