Kim noncommittal on support for Schumer

As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces criticism from fellow Democrats over his agreement to pass a GOP-authored government funding bill, Senator Andy Kim did not jump to his defense. 

Republicans needed eight Democrats last week to pass a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded for six months. Despite the bill’s cuts to some non-defense spending, Schumer joined Republicans in pushing the funding forward, telling Democrats a government shutdown would cause more harm to the country than the funding resolution.

Though Kim and Senator Cory Booker voted against the resolution, 10 Democrats ended up voting for the bill, angering members of the Democratic base who were itching for a fight. 

When asked if he has confidence in Schumer’s leadership, Kim didn’t answer directly—he instead said Senate Democrats should remain united in opposing President Donald Trump’s aggressive executive actions.

“Well, right now, what we need is to make sure that we have a strategy going forward and to be able to make sure we’re pushing on that,” the first-term senator told reporters. “I’ve yet to have a conversation with Senator Schumer since the vote. I want to gather with some of my other colleagues in terms of what comes next, but we have to make sure that the Senate Democrats are unified going forward and we have the kind of strategy that is needed to take on this administration that is clearly doing so many illegal things that are hurting the American people.”

Kim made the comments Tuesday afternoon after hosting an event with federal workers affected by mass layoffs conducted by the Trump administration.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was similarly silent last week when asked about his confidence in Schumer’s leadership. The House Democratic leader has since changed course, however, saying he supports Scuhmer’s leadership.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has been unabashed in his criticism—the progressive gubernatorial candidate said Schumer should step aside in light of the controversy. 

The intraparty kerfuffles come as Democratic leaders try to get a handle on the Trump presidency. Kim is hosting a series of town halls later this week in New Jersey’s GOP-held congressional districts as Democrats try to show Republican officials as inaccessible.

And while Democratic voters surely disapprove of Trump and co., the base, which wants aggressive pushback against the president, is increasingly showing frustration with their own party’s leaders.

Dozens of Democrats spurned Schumer at a town hall in Summit last week, and they were joined in their anger by Democratic former Rep. Tom Malinowski.