Chuck Schumer Elected Senate Minority Leader

USA Today reports:

Senate Democrats voted Wednesday to elect gregarious, hard-charging New York Sen. Chuck Schumer as minority leader for the new Congress. Schumer, who turns 66 next week, will replace 77-year-old Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada. Reid opted to retire rather than run for re-election to the Senate, but he made it clear that he wanted Schumer to succeed him as Democratic leader.

Schumer, a Brooklyn native, offers a much different style than Reid, who grew up in tiny Searchlight, Nev. Reid was a savvy backroom deal-maker but is not as telegenic, well-spoken or outgoing as Schumer, said Eric Herzik, chairman of the political science department at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“Schumer is going to bring more energy and this upbeat attitude that we’re going to get things done,” Herzik said. “He’s just a fresher face, and that might help him negotiate with Republicans.”

Schumer will be negotiating with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who was re-elected to the top leadership spot by his GOP colleagues on Wednesday. McConnell has been majority leader since 2015 and served as minority leader in the previous four Congresses.

Schumer marches in New York City’s pride parade every year with a rather large contingent.