Chuck Schumer dismisses opposition to his leadership from progressive Democrats

US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is facing opposition from progressives and a new group of Democratic lawmakers-elect to become Senate majority leader, in a rift that underscores the party’s divide on Israel.

Senators-elect Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Troy Jackson of Maine, and Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan all said on the campaign trail that they will oppose Schumer as Senate majority leader.

Meanwhile, progressive groups have said the Democrats’ sweeping midterm election victory on Tuesday should start the process of new lawmakers leading the party.

“Voters made it very clear that they want a new generation of Democratic fighters,” Indivisible, a progressive Democratic group, said this week. “We need a Leader in the Senate who is capable of leading that fight. It’s time for Senate Democrats to choose new leadership.”