New Polling on Ousting Schumer: Necessary Policy and Smart Politics
The first year of the second Trump administration was defined by horrifying authoritarian abuses from an unpopular regime that were met again and again by courageous resistance from everyday Americans…and cowardice or complicity from elites of every stripe. Despite genuine efforts from a handful of Democrats in congress, their ability to advance real, leave-it-all-on-the-field opposition strategy was repeatedly upended by the feckless leadership of Senate Democrats — and none were more feckless than Leader Chuck Schumer.
Senator Schumer isn’t responsible for all of the Democrats’ problems, but in 2025 he became emblematic of the party’s failed status quo: a poor communicator who is out-of-touch with his own base and unwilling to fight tooth and nail against authoritarianism. We saw it when he folded against Republicans in the funding fight in Spring, and again when he lost control of his caucus during the shutdown in Fall. That record of failure is why Indivisibles called for his removal as minority leader last year, and it’s why we’ve since made new leadership a core priority in our largest ever primary program this year.
Last month, we asked voters in two key Senate race states their opinions on Senator Schumer and his leadership, and the results show that replacing him isn’t just a necessary step for a 2027 opposition agenda — it’s also the smart call for candidates running in elections this year. By clear margins, Michigan and Minnesota voters support primary candidates who publicly declare their intention to vote for new leadership in the Senate and vote Chuck Schumer out as leader.
Chuck Schumer is the Most Unpopular Politician in America
Last month, Indivisible and YouGov asked voters in Minnesota and Michigan their opinions on Democratic leadership. The results paint a clear picture: Chuck Schumer is one of the most staggeringly unpopular politicians in America.
Even though the Trump administration is repeatedly reaching new lows in approval polling, Chuck Schumer is in a league of his own. In Minnesota, Senator Schumer is underwater by 42 points. By comparison, Mike Johnson was down only 18 points, with Donald Trump and Hakeem Jeffries close behind. Similarly, in Michigan, Senator Schumer is underwater by an incredible 45-point margin! No other national political figure comes close.
Minnesota is the frontline in the fight against the Trump administration’s authoritarian agenda, and Michigan is an absolute must-win for Democrats in the Senate this year. In both states, Schumer’s leadership is a toxic asset, and those of us working to win on the ground know it. Voters don’t want to entrust the fate of a Democratic majority to a politician they can’t stand. And yes — voters do care who the Democratic leader will be.
Voters are Looking for Candidates Who Will Demand New Leadership
Support for Senator Schumer as caucus leader has been lagging over the past several months, particularly since his failed leadership during the 2025 government shutdown. But that dissatisfaction isn’t just lightly-held opinion; it’s motivating voter behavior.
When polled, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans in both states indicated that they would be more likely to support a candidate who opposes Schumer as caucus leader than one who supports him, in Michigan by a 22-point margin and Minnesota by 25 points. Importantly, this preference wasn’t just about future behavior for winning candidates; majorities in both states (56% and 57%) indicated that a candidate’s position on Schumer was important to them in determining their vote now. In Michigan especially, where we can expect a competitive general election race to be determined in the margins, candidates cannot ignore the political benefit of coming out strongly against Schumer as leader.
More immediately, this question is helping to shape how voters are assessing the Democratic primary field. In Michigan and Minnesota, a majority of Democrats polled (55% and 54% respectively) said that they were more likely to support a candidate who would vote for someone other than Schumer. Both states are in the midst of highly competitive Senate primary elections, and candidates looking to break away from the field would be wise to publicly and clearly announce their intention to drop Schumer.
Winning Campaigns Run Against the Status Quo
The results of this polling tells a clear story: voters oppose the Trump administration and its enablers, but remain deeply unhappy with the Democratic leadership of Chuck Schumer. His level of unpopularity is influencing the way voters see the party and its candidates, and we can’t accept that as necessary baggage. Winning campaigns in 2026 will listen to voters who are demanding better, stronger, more ferocious leadership and run against the Schumer status quo.
If we’re going to win the fight against fascism, we need a real opposition party with real leaders who are up to the challenge. Replacing Senator Schumer as Democratic leader in the Senate is a necessary step to build that opposition party: one led by fighters — not folders — in the face of Trump’s authoritarian agenda. Join us in the fight for a party that will actually fight for us: https://www.indivisible2026.org/
This memorandum reports on the findings of two polls. One, a survey based on 803 interviews conducted by YouGov on the internet of registered voters in Michigan. The sampling process for this survey involved sampling a universe of representative registered voters, capturing responses on key demographic variables to ensure a representative sample. The margin of error is approximately 4.5%. Two, a survey based on 600 interviews conducted by YouGov on the internet of registered voters in Minnesota. The sampling process for this survey involved sampling a universe of representative registered voters, capturing responses on key demographic variables to ensure a representative sample. The margin of error is approximately 5.2%.
Paid for by Indivisible Action. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
