Chuck Schumer’s Revenge

The Atlantic · Franklin Foer · 2026-11-05 14:45 UTC

The Senate majority leader, long a left-wing punching bag, is now the architect of a historic landslide.

The Senate majority leader, long a left-wing punching bag, is now the architect of a historic landslide.

This story was updated on November 5, 2026 at 11:00 am EST.

Over the past two grim years, Chuck Schumer emerged as the symbol of everything that Democrats despised about themselves: the last aging Boomer who wouldn’t let go, the centrist without the steel to brawl with President Trump, a messenger forever mangling the message. Taunting the Senate minority leader became the easiest way for Democratic candidates to preen for the base and signal independence. “If you’re Chuck Schumer, I’m pretty damn dangerous,” Abdul El-Sayed jeered during the Michigan primary.

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