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Thune Campaigns Vigorously as Schumer Faces Criticism
Confirmed
In Short: Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been active on the campaign trail, while Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces criticism from his base.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has been making the rounds on the campaign trail, visiting key states like Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Ohio. Thune's efforts are in stark contrast to those of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who has largely stayed off the campaign trail, according to the Denver Gazette and Fox News.
Thune's campaign trail activities include attending agriculture events in South Dakota to discuss the farm bill and E15 gas, as well as participating in a roundtable in Nebraska alongside Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Thune's approach is to be whatever his candidates need him to be, whether it's supporting or opposing them, as he told Fox News Digital.
In a recent poll, Thune's favorability ratings stood at 12% favorable and 26% unfavorable, while Schumer's were at 15% favorable and 44% unfavorable, according to the Denver Gazette. This unpopularity may have made Schumer a liability on the campaign trail, as some candidates have tried to distance themselves from him.
Schumer's base has been critical of him for folding on issues popular to the Democratic electorate, such as voting in favor of GOP-backed continuing resolutions funding the government last year. This has led to calls for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to challenge Schumer in 2028 and for Senate Democrats to nominate new leadership.
Some Democratic candidates, including Abdul el Sayed in Michigan and Graham Platner in Maine, who has since suspended his campaign after allegations of sexual misconduct, have explicitly campaigned on opposing Schumer for Democratic leader. This sentiment is echoed by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who noted that no Republican running nationally is distancing themselves from Thune.
Schumer has shifted to virtual events while high-profile surrogates like former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris have been campaigning in battleground states. The Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC closely aligned with Schumer, has allocated $1.2 million in advertising in the state, but the candidate Colom isn't welcoming Schumer with open arms.
Schumer's unpopularity could hurt Democrats in the upcoming election, as Sen. John Thune (R-SD) noted, 'I think that's going to hurt them in this election in what otherwise might be arguably a decent political environment for them.' Thune also pointed out that the Democratic Party is struggling to find its identity in an election with high stakes for both parties.
Schumer's response to a question from NBC News about a potential high court vacancy if Democrats win in 2026 highlighted his focus on preventing 'MAGA justices' from being appointed to the Supreme Court and lower courts.
Background
Vance encouraged Republicans to campaign with enthusiasm and support their friends on the trail.
What's confirmed
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has been making the rounds on the campaign trail, visiting key states like Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Ohio. Thune's efforts are in stark contrast to those of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who has largely stayed off the campaign trail, according to the Denver Gazette and Fox News.
- Thune's campaign trail activities include attending agriculture events in South Dakota to discuss the farm bill and E15 gas, as well as participating in a roundtable in Nebraska alongside Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Thune's approach is to be whatever his candidates need him to be, whether it's supporting or opposing them, as he told Fox News Digital.
- In a recent poll, Thune's favorability ratings stood at 12% favorable and 26% unfavorable, while Schumer's were at 15% favorable and 44% unfavorable, according to the Denver Gazette. This unpopularity may have made Schumer a liability on the campaign trail, as some candidates have tried to distance themselves from him.
- Schumer's base has been critical of him for folding on issues popular to the Democratic electorate, such as voting in favor of GOP-backed continuing resolutions funding the government last year. This has led to calls for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to challenge Schumer in 2028 and for Senate Democrats to nominate new leadership.
- Some Democratic candidates, including Abdul el Sayed in Michigan and Graham Platner in Maine, who has since suspended his campaign after allegations of sexual misconduct, have explicitly campaigned on opposing Schumer for Democratic leader. This sentiment is echoed by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who noted that no Republican running nationally is distancing themselves from Thune.
- Schumer has shifted to virtual events while high-profile surrogates like former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris have been campaigning in battleground states. The Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC closely aligned with Schumer, has allocated $1.2 million in advertising in the state, but the candidate Colom isn't welcoming Schumer with open arms.
- Schumer's unpopularity could hurt Democrats in the upcoming election, as Sen. John Thune (R-SD) noted, 'I think that's going to hurt them in this election in what otherwise might be arguably a decent political environment for them.' Thune also pointed out that the Democratic Party is struggling to find its identity in an election with high stakes for both parties.
- Schumer's response to a question from NBC News about a potential high court vacancy if Democrats win in 2026 highlighted his focus on preventing 'MAGA justices' from being appointed to the Supreme Court and lower courts.
What's still developing
- The Washington Examiner reached out to Schumer’s office for comment as to his whereabouts.
- "I don't want to get into hypotheticals, because I don't know what the options are, who the options are."
- "But I'll say this, I don't like that our party is represented by two people that live in the same borough," Colom said, referring to Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
- Thune’s inability to shepherd the bill across the finish line has led to some tense moments with the White House, with Trump calling him out in the Oval Office and urging Thune to cancel August recess to pass the bill.
- Schumer has taken heat over the last two years as more Democrats call on him to pass the torch and that he has not done enough to combat President Donald Trump.
- Thune, for his part, has drawn the ire of the GOP base as the SAVE America Act — the voter ID and election integrity bill championed by Trump — remains stuck in Senate purgatory without the votes to break the filibuster.
- "We're getting out and about — It's whatever we can do to help," he said.
- "And we need to make sure our values and visions are part of the Democratic Party."
- "creating problems for their leadership. And I think it's in both the House and the Senate, you're having to decide, is that what we want to be? Does that really represent us?"
- And that ascendant left flank of Schumer’s could cause problems in a political environment that could be leaning Democrats’ way, Thune said.