Bredesen says he won’t back Schumer for Senate Dem leader
Phil Bredesen, the Democratic Senate candidate in Tennessee, said on Tuesday night that he won’t support Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) as the Senate Democratic leader.
Bredesen, during his opening comments in a debate, said Congress needs “to get new leadership.”
“I can tell you right now that if I’m elected, and when I’m elected and go to Washington, I am not going to be voting for Chuck Schumer,” Bredesen said.{mosads}
He added that “a lot of the problem” with Washington, D.C. — which he argued had become “hyperpartisan” — is the current leadership in both parties and that “they’re not doing the job.”
Bredesen is running for the Senate seat being vacated by GOP Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.), who is retiring at the end of the year. He’s worked to distance himself from the national Democratic Party as he tries to win in the deep-red state.
“I need to make clear to everybody my independence from all of the national Democratic stuff,” he told The Associated Press in an interview that published on Sunday.
Bredesen is facing off against Rep. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) for the Senate seat. The race, according to a RealClear Politics average of polling, is locked in a tie, though the AP reported that internal polling from both sides has Bredesen in a slight lead.
Blackburn noted during Tuesday night’s debate that Bredesen could have run as a Republican or independent but chose to run as a Democrat.
“He will be with Chuck Schumer if he were to go to Washington,” she said.
Bredesen is one of a growing number of Senate Democratic candidates who say they wouldn’t support Schumer as Democratic leader.
Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D), who is running for a Senate seat in Texas against Sen. Ted Cruz (R), told ABC News in July that he wouldn’t support Schumer.
“I would have to … listen to those who are vying for that position and then make the best-informed decision. But I’ve not spoken to [Schumer] or really anyone about it. In fact, this is the first time I’ve been asked the question,” he added at the time.
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) also said in July that she wouldn’t support Schumer.
The Senate doesn’t hold public votes for caucus leadership, which are worked out in closed-door meetings.
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