The future of Washington, D.C. is being rewritten. The old guard political class is being kicked to the curb.
And now a U.S. Senator’s been struck with faint-inducing news that their career is over.
Democrats Scramble to Save a Sinking Ship as Schumer’s Star Fades
The Democratic Party is in crisis mode, grappling with a leadership shakeup that could redefine its future. As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s popularity craters to historic lows, rising stars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gov. Kathy Hochul are seizing the moment, fueling speculation that the party is desperately pivoting to fresher faces to salvage its dwindling influence. A recent Siena College survey released Tuesday lays bare the stark contrast: while Schumer’s favorability tanks, Ocasio-Cortez and Hochul are gaining ground, signaling a potential changing of the guard.
According to the Siena College poll, Schumer’s favorability rating has plummeted to a dismal 39%, with a 49% unfavorable rating—the worst in his 20-year tenure in the Senate, as tracked by Siena since February 2005. This marks the first time since June 2024 that his favorability has dipped into negative territory. The numbers paint a grim picture for the veteran senator, who once commanded respect but now faces a revolt within his own ranks.
“A first in a Siena College poll: Schumer is 10 points underwater, with a plurality of voters viewing him unfavorably,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg wrote in a press release. “While he continues to be viewed unfavorably by more than two-thirds of Republicans and a majority of independents, Schumer saw his standing with Democrats, particularly liberals, fall dramatically. Democrats view Schumer favorably 52-38%, down from 68-23%, and he’s still viewed favorably by a plurality of liberals, 47-41%, but that’s down from 68-21%. New York City voters are barely favorable, 47-44%.”
Meanwhile, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is riding a wave of approval, with her favorability rating climbing to 47%, up from 38% in January 2021. The congresswoman’s appeal spans the Democratic base, particularly resonating with 64% of Democrats, outpacing both Schumer and Hochul. Her ability to connect with voters, especially younger and more progressive ones, has positioned her as a formidable force within the party.
“Among eight elected officials and each house of the State Legislature, AOC has the best favorability rating,” Greenberg wrote. “She is viewed favorably by 64% of Democrats – more than Hochul or Schumer – and she is viewed unfavorably by 60% of Republicans. Independents are evenly divided 39-39%. While Schumer’s fifth term runs through 2028, Ocasio-Cortez has established herself as a New York Democrat to watch.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul is also carving out a stronger presence, with her favorability rating ticking up to 44% from 40% in March, alongside a 43% unfavorable rating. Additionally, 48% of New York voters approve of her job performance as governor, a slight improvement from 46% in March. For a party searching for stability, Hochul’s steady gains offer a glimmer of hope.
“For the first time since January 2024, Hochul has a positive – barely – favorability rating, and for the first time since February 2024, a plurality of voters approves of the job she is doing as governor,” Greenberg noted. These incremental improvements suggest Hochul is weathering the storm better than Schumer, positioning her as a potential anchor for Democrats in New York.
Schumer’s decline, however, is more than just a popularity contest gone wrong. His decision to vote in favor of a GOP-backed spending bill in March sparked outrage among Democrats, who saw it as a betrayal of party principles. The backlash was swift and severe, with prominent figures like Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland and Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow openly calling for his resignation. The incident exposed deep fissures within the party, as frustration with Schumer’s leadership boiled over.
The Siena poll is not an isolated snapshot. A string of recent surveys have confirmed Schumer’s eroding support, with voters increasingly viewing him as out of touch. An April poll by Data for Progress, a left-leaning firm, revealed that 55% of likely Democratic voters in a hypothetical 2028 New York Senate primary would support or lean toward Ocasio-Cortez, compared to just 36% for Schumer, with 9% undecided. While Ocasio-Cortez has not yet declared her intentions, the numbers suggest she could mount a serious challenge if she chooses to run.
For Democrats, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The party is reeling from recent electoral setbacks and internal divisions, with voters signaling a desire for new leadership. Schumer’s fall from grace is a symptom of a larger problem: a party struggling to connect with its base while fending off Republican gains. Ocasio-Cortez’s rise, in particular, reflects a hunger for bold, unapologetic voices who can energize the progressive wing without alienating moderates.
Democrat Party Polling Continues To Sink
The Democratic Party is teetering on the edge of a crisis, with new polling from Gallup revealing a catastrophic collapse in public confidence in its congressional leadership. Conducted between April 1 and 14, the survey found that only 25 percent of Americans trust Democratic congressional leaders, marking the lowest level since Gallup began tracking this metric in 2001. This represents a staggering 9-point drop from the previous historic low of 34 percent in 2023 and a far cry from the party’s historical average of 45 percent. As the Democrats grapple with this plummeting support, the party is frantically searching for ways to salvage its image and influence before it’s too late.
In stark contrast, the Republican Party is enjoying a surge in public confidence, with 39 percent of respondents expressing trust in GOP congressional leadership—a modest increase from 36 percent last year. This figure towers 14 points above the Democrats’ dismal showing, painting a picture of a political landscape where one party is gaining ground while the other flounders. The Gallup poll, which surveyed 1,006 adults nationwide with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level, signals a clear shift in public sentiment that Democrats can no longer ignore. The numbers are a wake-up call, and the party’s leadership is under immense pressure to act swiftly.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, reached for comment on Saturday, pointed to remarks he made during a Wednesday interview with Fox 5’s Good Day New York. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment. And I understand that Donald Trump is intentionally flooding the zone day-after-day-after-day. It’s a parade of horribles. And that, of course, has people disconcerted. We understand that,” Jeffries said.
The Conservative Column will update you on any major news from the Democrat Party.
