In private meetings with his in-cycle incumbents, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has asked for a small favor: If you're not going to run in 2026, please let me know soonest. Why it matters: Two Democrats in potentially close races have now honored his request.

The Senate minority leader told fellow lawmakers he plans to use their leverage to slow or stop Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk from gutting crucial government programs.

Schumer's stance is at odds with demands from progressive activists, who have been urging Democrats to block all business in the Senate and refuse to collaborate with Republicans so long as the Trump administration continues to disregard federal law and Congress' constitutional authority over spending.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) in a letter to colleagues Monday warned of the possibility of a “Trump shutdown” and reminded fellow senators that Democrats have the power to make or