Schumer Says Democrats 'On the Edge' of Winning Back Senate
Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic Leader from New York, told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday that his party is "on the edge of taking back the Senate," framing the coming election as a verdict on two years of President Trump's administration that he said have brought higher prices and bitter partisanship in Washington.
"We Dems have the wind in our sails heading into October and the final stretch," Schumer said, adding that "Americans are frustrated with higher costs and a government they don't believe is working for them."
Among the burdens he listed were what he called "soaring costs," pointing to national gasoline prices of $4.41 per gallon and diesel at $6.53. He also cited "millions" of people losing health coverage as insurance premium subsidies lapse and Medicaid is cut, along with public dissatisfaction with the war in Iran and Trump's hardline deportation measures.
According to Schumer, Democratic senators are highly optimistic about recapturing the majority — or, at minimum, flipping enough seats to be well placed to do so in 2028.
Asked about his position as party leader at a time when progressive candidates in competitive races are increasingly critical of the Washington establishment, Schumer said: "We're in great shape. Everyone is really very, very pleased with where we are today compared to where we were 20 months ago."
He cautioned against complacency, saying: "This election is a close election, there's no question about it. We do not want to be overconfident but what we're seeing in state after state after state is that people are sick of Trump, they're sick of the Republican Senate going along with him, and they see the clear divisions we have drawn between what we stand for and what they stand for."
"That has put us on the edge of victory but we still have a ways to go," he added.
Schumer's measured tone reflects the memory of 2024, when his predictions of Democratic gains did not materialize. At the party's national convention that August, he said Democrats would keep the Senate and might even add seats with former Vice President Harris at the top of the ticket. In the event, Democrats lost four seats and their majority. Republican Jim Justice captured the West Virginia seat left open by retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), while Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) were all defeated.
Responding to complaints about his leadership, Schumer said: "I have focused totally, like the north star, on winning back the Senate and I think people recognize that we've had a lot of success and are getting very close."
He promised to do "everything I can" in the coming month to help Senate candidates retake the chamber, but would not say whether he would visit any battleground states to campaign.
Republicans, for their part, argue they remain well positioned to defend their majority, citing experienced incumbents including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) in key contests.
Democrats are hopeful that former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) can win the North Carolina seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). But capturing the majority would also require defeating Collins, who has seen off a series of Democratic challengers in Maine, and winning in states Trump carried comfortably in 2024, including Iowa, Ohio and Texas.
A net gain of four seats is what Democrats need to take control of the Senate.
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