In the wake of the Democratic Party’s stunning Election Day collapse, a number of its high-profile members announced that they would be changing their political affiliation.
MSNBC personality Symone Sanders-Townsend recently became the latest addition to that list, which was particularly notable given her recent role as Kamala Harris’ chief communications officer.
She made the announcement on the cable news network over the weekend during an on-air discussion of the recent passage of a continuing resolution in Congress.
As Fox News reported:
“I’m pissed,” MSNBC host Symone Sanders Townsend said, referring to the contents of the spending bill. “There’s actually little that the Senate Minority Leader can say, and the 10 Democrats that voted with the Republicans can say, to appease somebody like me. I’m going to change my registration to Independent.”
A government shutdown was averted on Friday just before the deadline. Senators voted 54-46 to pass the stopgap spending bill, which only needed 51 votes to be approved. Nearly all Republicans backed the measure. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted against the bill along with nearly all the Democrats, except Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine.
Townsend went on to read an excerpt from journalist Rebecca Traister’s Substack, which argued that the same Democratic politicians who were sounding the alarm on Trump being a threat to democracy were “questioning whether or not to stand up to him and his party.”
“There’s not another option for Senate Democrats or House Democrats to effectively push back. This was it. They blew it. The Democratic Tea Party was born the same day that Chuck Schumer took to that podium to read that very well-crafted statement that told us he folded like a paper napkin,” Townsend continued.
Even Democrats who aren’t planning to turn their backs on the party were outraged over the perceived spinelessness of congressional leaders:
Jake Tapper: “Do you think Senate Democrats should replace Chuck Schumer?”
Jasmine Crocket: “I think Senate Democrats have to sit down and take a look and decide whether or not Chuck Schumer is the one to lead in this moment.”@chuckschumer , step down as leader. pic.twitter.com/qllNWiNmcs
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) March 16, 2025
I don't think this guy gets just how tired Democrats are of weak leadership.
Hey Chuck Schumer…
We're done with you. pic.twitter.com/OPaE1Zvk2A
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) March 14, 2025
The democrats are imploding. They are pointing fingers at each other for letting the car pass. AOC is the most vocal. She wants both Schumer's job and to be POTUS. Fetterman claps back at AOC. All of a sudden Democrats love the fillibuster. Trump is just sitting back enjoying. pic.twitter.com/jojaxkTc94
— Zebra12🇺🇲⚡🔥 sic semper tyrannis anti woke AF (@Zebra12991210) March 15, 2025
Mediaite also covered Sanders-Townsend’s recent remarks:
MSNBC hosts piled on embattled Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday with Symone Sanders-Townsend saying the Democratic leader “folded” to President Donald Trump “like a paper napkin.”
ADVERTISEMENTSchumer took flak from within his own ranks last week when he announced he would support the GOP-led continuing resolution to fund the government through most of the remaining year.
The New Yorker drew the ire of Democratic pundits, his Senate colleagues, and dozens of House Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries actually declined to answer a question about whether it was time for the party to find new leaders in the upper chamber on Friday.
Weeks before the CR vote, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) shared his thoughts about an emerging “civil war” within the Democratic Party:
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