Sen. Schumer: Voting Rights First If Dems Take Control

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced that voting rights would be the top legislative priority for Democrats in 2025 if they maintain control of the Senate and the White House and regain the House, signaling a renewed push to overcome Senate filibuster obstacles and enact liberal reforms, The Hill reported.

In January, 2022, Schumer sought to bypass the Senate filibuster — a rule requiring 60 votes to end debate and proceed to a final vote — by creating a loophole specifically for voting rights legislation. However, his attempt was thwarted by two centrist independents, Sens. Joe Manchin  of West Virginia, and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who opposed the move. Manchin was previously a Democrat until May 2024. Both senators are set to retire at the end of this year.

Schumer’s pledge, made during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, reflects the party’s determination to overcome previous hurdles that blocked similar efforts.

“One of the first things we want to do is what we did first last time, but I think we’ll have more success, and that’s democracy — dealing with voting rights, dealing with Citizens United, dealing with reapportionment,” Schumer said. He emphasized that campaign finance reform and eliminating extreme gerrymandering would also be key priorities under Democrat leadership.

Schumer noted that when he initially proposed reforming the filibuster for voting rights, only 35 Democrat senators supported the idea. By January, 2022, he had rallied 48 senators behind the effort, but Manchin and Sinema’s opposition remained a barrier. With both senators departing, Schumer sees a renewed opportunity, especially with Arizona’s Democrat Senate candidate, Rep. Ruben Gallego, who could replace Sinema, supporting filibuster reform.

In addition to voting rights, Schumer highlighted other significant priorities for a potential Democrat Congress. One primary focus is curbing the impact of the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which allows unlimited corporate and outside group spending in elections. Schumer and Senate Democrats back the Disclose Act, legislation requiring organizations that spend money in elections to disclose donors contributing $10,000 or more.

Schumer also strongly supported the Redistricting Reform Act of 2024, introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Laphonza Butler, D-Calif. The act aims to ban partisan gerrymandering, ensure compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and draw districts that represent communities fairly.

Beyond these issues, Schumer identified affordable housing as a crucial concern. He said that Democrats would pursue housing reforms through budget reconciliation, a strategy that circumvents Republican filibusters.

“Housing is a desperate need all across America,” Schumer said, highlighting the bipartisan nature of the housing situation.

Environmental priorities are also on the agenda, with Schumer advocating for a goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. Additionally, Schumer signaled a desire to roll back parts of the 2017 Trump-era tax reforms, particularly those benefiting the wealthiest Americans and corporations.

“To deal with our fiscal problems, we want to undo some of the Trump tax cuts, which went to the very wealthy, who are doing just great,” he said. “You can pay your fair share of taxes.”