Democrats in Disarray: Party Frustration Mounts Amid Historic Shutdown and Schumer’s Decline

As the federal government shutdown stretches past 41 days, frustration is mounting within the Democratic Party. An editorial published by the New York Post on Tuesday captured the growing disillusionment among rank-and-file Democrats, arguing that the shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — has done little to advance their legislative goals while exposing deep divisions inside the party.

According to the editorial, Democrats “pointlessly kept the government shut down for 41 days (and counting) purely to satisfy their squalling left flank’s need to ‘resist’ President Donald Trump.” The piece accused Democratic leaders of bowing to pressure from progressive activists and donors who demanded a symbolic stand against the Republican majority, even at the cost of significant political fallout.

The editorial board also suggested that Democrats’ stated justification for prolonging the shutdown — to secure an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies — was disingenuous, since it was the party itself that had previously set the expiration date. “The true reason,” the board wrote, “was simply that Democratic grassroots activists are furious that they can’t get their way in Washington, and insisted that their representatives express their rage.”

The op-ed argued that the shutdown became less about policy and more about political identity, portraying it as an effort to “save democracy” by opposing Trump at all costs — even when that meant obstructing policies that could benefit voters.

Pressure on Schumer and Party Leadership

The editorial noted that the standoff has inflamed tensions between party leaders and progressive lawmakers. The left wing of the Democratic Party, particularly in the House, has grown increasingly dissatisfied with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), with some members calling for his replacement.

“Sen. Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said recently, echoing the frustration of colleagues who believe Schumer has failed to lead a coherent opposition to Trump’s agenda.

Rumors have circulated for months that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — one of the most prominent figures in the party’s progressive faction — is considering a primary challenge against Schumer. According to reports from CNN, if such a challenge were to occur, she would be a strong favorite to win.

Polls Show Schumer Losing Ground

CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten reported Tuesday that Schumer’s approval rating among Democrats has dropped to its lowest level for any Senate Democratic leader since at least 1985. Citing polling from the Pew Research Center and FiveThirtyEight, Enten said Schumer’s net approval among Democrats stood at minus four — a startling figure for a sitting Senate leader from his own party.

“Look at this — least popular Democratic Senate leader ever,” Enten said during a broadcast of CNN News Central. “He’s underwater with Democrats, his own party. That makes him the least popular guy to hold that position in at least four decades.”

Enten attributed the decline to widespread dissatisfaction among Democratic voters who believe their party is not doing enough to challenge President Trump. “Democrats want a fighter,” he explained. “Polling shows that a majority of Democratic voters feel Congress is doing too little to push back against the president.”

According to Enten, just 46% of Democrats in 2017 said their party’s lawmakers were not aggressive enough in opposing Trump. Today, that figure has surged to 69%, an increase of 23 percentage points. “A supermajority of Democrats think their representatives are being too cautious,” Enten said, adding that the sentiment is a “big, big criticism” of Schumer’s leadership.

A Party at a Crossroads

The internal conflict comes as eight Democratic senators broke ranks to support a temporary funding bill that could end the shutdown — a move that further angered the progressive base. Many on the left see such votes as capitulation to Republican priorities, while moderates argue they are necessary to restore basic government functions.

Meanwhile, Schumer’s standing in his home state of New York has also deteriorated. A recent Siena College poll found that his approval ratings have slipped sharply among both Democrats and independents, leaving him more vulnerable to a potential primary challenge than at any point in his career.

Enten noted that current polling gives Ocasio-Cortez a clear advantage should she decide to run against Schumer in 2028. “Look at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez running way ahead,” he said. “If she decides to challenge Chuck Schumer, she’s got a real leg up on the competition. I dare say she would be the favorite to beat him.”

Looking Ahead

The prolonged shutdown and the leadership crisis within the Democratic Party have created a moment of reckoning for Schumer and his colleagues. While the party remains united in opposition to Trump’s policies, deep divisions persist over how far and how fast to push that opposition — and whether symbolic resistance is worth the political cost.

If Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives continue to gain momentum, Schumer may soon face the same challenge many Democrats are confronting nationwide: balancing ideological purity with pragmatic governance.

For now, one thing is clear — the shutdown may eventually end, but the battle for control of the Democratic Party is only beginning.