Especially since he has been weak in the modern era. He'd prefer to preserve institutions even if doing so fundamentally damaged everything else.
Even if he wasn't a recent disappointment I'd say any senator approaching 80 should seriously consider retiring. We need new blood and we need to avoid another Feinstein scenario. For that matter Sanders could give us a serious headache if his health takes a turn for the worse, with republican Scott as governor of the state. Too many senators staying on too long.
What's the leadership succession plan for our senate caucus anyway? Schumer is getting up there in years too, Durbin is 2nd but he wouldn't be able to get the job, especially as he has the same age issue. Stabenow is next after Durbin but she will be replaced by Slotkin. Is anyone else ranked high enough to have a pipeline to being next caucus leader, or will we have a wide open process?
I might be wrong but I don't think she has any official leadership positions in our senate caucus. She's the president pro tempore as the now senior-most dem. She also chairs appropriations, which would require some level of connections.
That said she's probably out of the running by default too. She's 74 and assuming Schumer stays leader until 2028, she'd be nearly 80 by the time his successor is chosen.
I was avoiding tossing names out there for who I'd like, but since you and Jonathan both mentioned him, I'll note that I would also like Murphy for future leadership positions. Schatz could be nice too. I've long appreciated that both of them are aware of the intransigence and toxicity of republicans and are willing to be fighters — without being mean or exhausting about it — in a way that many more senior senators are not.
We need fighters. I really do wish Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
And with regards to Majority Leader Schumer, is there any reason why he doesn’t file cloture on all outstanding judicial nominations? Or at least 10 or 12 per week? I am not aware of any Senate rule preventing this.
And we need to watch what goes on in Vermont over the next six years. Not only did Phil Scott cruise to a fifth term as Governor, Sanders' protege David Zuckerman was ousted as Lieutenant Governor, so Republicans will now have two statewide offices held there next January. Should something happen to Sanders - I maintain unlike Leahy, he leaves the US Senate horizontally - we cannot bank on Governor Scott to appoint a Progressive or Democrat to replace him.
Actually Vermont used to be THE most Republican state in the USA. Largely due to its rural and homogeneous population. It became a Democratic state mostly due to backlash against hardline southern social conservatism.
Dick Durbin, who will be 80 years old by 2026, says minority status is a 'consideration' for standing for reelection.
Bernie Sanders will be 89 years old by the end of his newly won term. So why not.
But hopefully he retires during this Trump midterm and let Lauren Underwood run.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/11/us-sen-dick-durbin-says-democrats-minority-status-a-consideration-as-he-mulls-reelection-bid/
Durbin should def call it a career
Agree.
Especially since he has been weak in the modern era. He'd prefer to preserve institutions even if doing so fundamentally damaged everything else.
Even if he wasn't a recent disappointment I'd say any senator approaching 80 should seriously consider retiring. We need new blood and we need to avoid another Feinstein scenario. For that matter Sanders could give us a serious headache if his health takes a turn for the worse, with republican Scott as governor of the state. Too many senators staying on too long.
What's the leadership succession plan for our senate caucus anyway? Schumer is getting up there in years too, Durbin is 2nd but he wouldn't be able to get the job, especially as he has the same age issue. Stabenow is next after Durbin but she will be replaced by Slotkin. Is anyone else ranked high enough to have a pipeline to being next caucus leader, or will we have a wide open process?
Murray is still pretty high up there no?
I might be wrong but I don't think she has any official leadership positions in our senate caucus. She's the president pro tempore as the now senior-most dem. She also chairs appropriations, which would require some level of connections.
That said she's probably out of the running by default too. She's 74 and assuming Schumer stays leader until 2028, she'd be nearly 80 by the time his successor is chosen.
Did she give up leadership for appropriations chair? I think maybe
Yeah, true.
I guess it boils down to what we want in a caucus leader. Murphy could be good since he’ll be well-tenured by 2028 if that’s when Schumer stands aside
I was avoiding tossing names out there for who I'd like, but since you and Jonathan both mentioned him, I'll note that I would also like Murphy for future leadership positions. Schatz could be nice too. I've long appreciated that both of them are aware of the intransigence and toxicity of republicans and are willing to be fighters — without being mean or exhausting about it — in a way that many more senior senators are not.
I'm a fan of Chris Murphy(he's actually charismatic in small settings)
We need fighters. I really do wish Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
And with regards to Majority Leader Schumer, is there any reason why he doesn’t file cloture on all outstanding judicial nominations? Or at least 10 or 12 per week? I am not aware of any Senate rule preventing this.
And we need to watch what goes on in Vermont over the next six years. Not only did Phil Scott cruise to a fifth term as Governor, Sanders' protege David Zuckerman was ousted as Lieutenant Governor, so Republicans will now have two statewide offices held there next January. Should something happen to Sanders - I maintain unlike Leahy, he leaves the US Senate horizontally - we cannot bank on Governor Scott to appoint a Progressive or Democrat to replace him.
Would have been great for him to stand aside for Balint
True but with a Republican President, any race is Democratic won(but yes in the meantime it would be Republican representative)
They also made huge gains in the legislature. Could be m opening for a moderate GOPer
Precisely my point. Even in Vermont, Sanders style politics is no longer a guaranteed sell.
Vermont has always been a strange super Dem state. Uber white, rural and pro-gun. Could be due for some regression there.
Actually Vermont used to be THE most Republican state in the USA. Largely due to its rural and homogeneous population. It became a Democratic state mostly due to backlash against hardline southern social conservatism.
Agree. Never even voted for FDR. Will be interesting to watch