WASHINGTON — A far-left group is touting its “largest primary program” ever to take down Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as the party grapples with the looming end of the government shutdown.
Indivisible, a “grassroots” progressive activist hub bankrolled in part by billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, is demanding its recruits oppose Schumer (D-NY) as leader of the Senate Democratic conference.
“Chuck Schumer and a critical mass of Senate Democrats surrendered,” Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, fumed in a statement Monday. “In these six weeks of the shutdown, Democrats had their best election night in over a decade.”
“Instead of standing with that energy, Senate Democrats surrendered — yet again. That’s why Indivisible is launching our largest primary program yet,” Levin added. “This is no longer about them — it’s about us.”
Schumer had opposed the bipartisan deal to end the 42-day funding lapse, but progressives have blamed him for failing to keep seven Democrats and one Democrat-aligned independent in line and keep the government’s lights off.
A high-level Democratic source dismissed Levin’s proclamation, saying the group “has threatened [House Minority Leader Hakeem] Jeffries, Schumer and every other elected Democrat — but to the overall electorate that wants government to function, Indivisible just doesn’t matter.
“They have a toxic brand that Republicans exploit,” this person told The Post.
Indivisible bashed Jeffries in March for not doing more to defend Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) from censure by the GOP-led House after he disrupted President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
That same month, Schumer faced the group’s ire after he personally voted to allow Republicans to forge ahead with a six-month spending patch and avert a government shutdown.
Indivisible, which has raked in more than $7.6 million since 2017 from the Open Society Foundations, called for Schumer to step down as the top Senate Democrat at the time. Now that demand will be a litmus test for any Senate candidates it supports.
While no sitting senator has called on Schumer to step aside as leader, multiple Democrats who hope to win Senate seats next year have expressed opposition to him remaining, including Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls and fellow Hawkeye State hopeful Nathan Sage, and Graham Platner of Maine.
The calls mirror similar activist protest against former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) during the 2018 midterm cycle. Ultimately, the Californian claimed the gavel for a second time after Democrats gained 41 seats to take back control of the lower chamber of Congress.
“Our democracy is facing an existential threat. We need leaders with backbone and conviction — not timidity and excuses,” added Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible.
“Democrats can’t defeat authoritarianism by running from the fight. It’s in our hands to make sure those who can’t fight make space for the leaders who can. Indivisible is ready to clean house and build a party that actually has the energy to act like an opposition.”
