NY's Schumer Poised To Become Democrats' New U.S. Senate Leader

Following his re-election on Tuesday to the U.S. Senate, New York's Charles "Chuck" Schumer is poised to become the next Democratic Senate Leader.

U. S. Sen. Charles "Chuck" Schumer speaks at a 2016 ceremony at Pace University. With his re-election on Tuesday, Schumer set his sights on becoming the U.S. Senate's top Democrat.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Jon Craig

11/08/2016 8:43 p.m.

Schumer, a Democrat from Brooklyn, faced a challenge from Republican Wendy Long and a pair of third-party candidates.

A congressman since 1981 and U.S. senator since 1999, Schumer is in line to become the top Democrat in the Senate when Harry Reid retires early next year.

According to this Daily News article, Schumer's succession as the Democrats' next Senate leader, will be "a major stylistic change of pace from outgoing Democratic leader Harry Reid — hoping he can help Congress move away from the toxic partisan rancor of the last decade."

Schumer, who would be the first Jewish Senate Leader, has long been the public face for Democrats, as the irascible Reid, a Nevada Democrat, preferred to work behind the scenes.

With Reid's exit, the camera-hungry Schumer becomes the most powerful Democrat in Congress — but according to his Daily News interview, Schumer aims to strike a more conciliatory balance than his "punchy predecessor, even as he fights to make sure his side returns to the majority."

The next Democratic leader ranked tax reform, immigration and criminal justice reform, and significant investment in infrastructure and the National Institutes of Health as areas where he thinks he can work across the aisle with Republicans to achieve real change, the Daily News reported.

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