WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Schumer will face a series of immediate challenges when he becomes the majority leader later this month, after four years leading the minority Democrats and two months in limbo.
After a couple of party victories in Georgia this week, the New York Democrat is now in a position to lead a uniformly divided Senate in debate over the next coronavirus relief package, fighting Republicans and wings competitors of her own party, while pastoring President-elect Joe Nominated to Biden’s cabinet and potentially a prosecution trial.
“We’re sure we haven’t taken the most direct route to get here, but here we are,” Schumer said this week. Democrats will officially take control of the 50-50 chamber once Georgia’s winners are certified and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris takes office on Jan. 20 and can cast a tiebreaker vote.
The tectonic implications of Georgia’s victories – which will give Democrats control of both houses of Congress and the White House for the next two years – were quickly overshadowed when a violent crowd of supporters of President Trump stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. . Schumer and current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) Had their first discussion about the upcoming change of a safe place during the attack on the Capitol, an aide said.
In late January, Schumer will be the epicenter of Democrats’ efforts to see how much of Mr. Biden’s agenda can become law in a time of bitter mistrust between the two parties, competitive interests between the centrist and liberal wings of Democrats. , and demands to respond to the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.