Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) announced that they would not support Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for reelection as Senate Democratic leader in the next Congress. Senator Sanders told Capitol Hill reporters, "In my view, the time is now for change." Both senators pointed to Democrats' gains in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that voters had called for change rather than the status quo.