Democratic Socialists of America members are plotting an aggressive campaign against Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, hoping [1] to turn their growing political clout against two of the Democratic Party’s most powerful congressional leaders. The effort was detailed on a private online discussion board reviewed by The Post.
Members discussed a national push to bombard lawmakers with thousands of calls and letters while building public opposition to Schumer and Jeffries. Their immediate goal is to challenge the pair’s leadership positions, but the larger ambition is to remove both men from Congress in 2028 and install socialist replacements.
The revolt comes despite both Democrats previously backing DSA candidates. Jeffries endorsed Mayor Zohran Mamdani last year, while Schumer spoke at a 2023 reelection fundraiser for City Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán in Astoria, where $14 cocktails carried names such as “The Spirited Socialist.”
That support apparently earned little loyalty from the socialist activists now targeting them. One participant bragged that he called three representatives during his morning walk to work and urged them not to support either Schumer or Jeffries.
“Both of these men are corporate shills who have enthusiastically cheered on a genocide. If we do nothing, what were these wins even for?” wrote Syjil Ashraf, a leader on the DSA’s International Committee, during the discussion about the midterm results.
Another member from the organization’s Richmond chapter declared, “Both are openly hostile to our goals and our organization.” The discussion exposed an effort to use recent Democratic victories as leverage for a broader socialist takeover inside the party.
Schumer, currently the Senate minority leader, could become majority leader in January after Democrats won control of the chamber, provided he retains the support of his caucus. Jeffries, the current House minority leader, could receive the speaker’s gavel if Democrats reelect him as their top House leader.
“He’s sitting in a congressional seat that should belong to DSA,” a member from the New Orleans chapter said about Jeffries. “His national profile is in part keeping that from happening. Strip him of his leadership position first. Take his seat next.”
HOLY CRAP! Hakeem Jeffries is getting EATEN ALIVE by protestors right in the middle of his remarks
“You are a f*cking LIAR!”
“You’re a f*cking TRAITOR!”
For nearly 2 MINUTES STRAIGHT they were getting hauled out as they went berserk
The clown car is DESTROYING ITSELF https://t.co/TXmXNk3lbU
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 13, 2026 [2]
The appetite for an internal purge was hardly subtle. “People are angry and out for blood and I don’t feel they’re ready to go back to ‘brunch,’” one DSA member said during the debate, which began last week.
Jeffries has support from prominent figures on the left, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brad Lander, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Mamdani. James warned socialists who were “drunk on power” not to target Jeffries, who is likely to become the first black Speaker of the House in January.
NEW | NY AG Letitia James warns DSA not to primary Hakeem Jeffries:
“For those who live in his district and are so drunk of power to think that they’re going to run against this man, you’ve got to come mess with me.” https://t.co/xxuwjk0Kc5
— Jimmy Media (@JimmyJMedia) November 8, 2026 [3]
Schumer faces a more vulnerable position, with 10 prominent senators or senators elect saying they will oppose him. The group includes Bernie Sanders, Elissa Slotkin and Abdul El-Sayed, while Sen. Chris Van Hollen launched a challenge Thursday.
Abdul El-Sayed wants Chris Van Hollen to lead Senate Democrats because he flew to a foreign country to meet with a deported illegal alien.
The actual definition of America last https://t.co/avdpAe4k1A
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 12, 2026 [4]
.@SenatorSlotkin (D-MI) says she is not voting for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for Majority Leader: “I’m glad to see there’s more people getting in the race.” https://t.co/McwszccYbC
— CSPAN (@cspan) November 13, 2026 [5]
The national DSA began its “Say No to Schumer” campaign on social media that same day, using Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” as the soundtrack. The organization said “Good Luck Chuck” had “failed to deliver for the working class,” and claimed its campaign generated more than 6,000 letters to members of Congress.
Activists also discussed pressuring eight elected DSA officials to deliver a “hard no on these two ghouls.” If those officials refuse, members want them to demand concessions for their support, with one participant calling for activists to “hold the Sword of Damocles” over their heads.
“If our DSA electeds can’t oppose these two ultra-Zionists, I don’t see how they can meaningfully be seen to be upholding DSA politics in the slightest,” said a New Jersey member of the DSA’s National Abolition Working Group. The member added, “Schumer is clearly extremely unpopular across a progressive-to-socialist spectrum, and he should absolutely be vigorously opposed.”
The Sunrise Movement also sent protesters to Washington to demonstrate outside Schumer’s office. A DSA member from the Los Angeles chapter said the group was paying for her travel, writing, “Sunrise is literally paying people to fly out to DC to fight against Schumer. I’m sending this from my layover in Denver.”
Videos posted by Sunrise showed protesters wearing keffiyehs blockading Schumer’s office, carrying signs and chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, Chuck Schumer has got to go!” Dozens were arrested by US Capitol Police, and Sunrise claimed, “Today, 50+ young people were arrested in Chuck Schumer’s office demanding new Senate leadership. Momentum is building.”
A source with knowledge of the dispute said the DSA had already been warned by James to back away from New York’s leaders. “Ball is in their court now,” the source told The Post.