Schumer takes victory lap after Warnock win in Georgia Senate run-off caps midterms success for Democrats

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took an emotional victory lap Wednesday after Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) won reelection to cap a surprisingly successful midterms election for Democrats.

Holding up five fingers on one hand and one on the other, Schumer (D-N.Y.) paid tribute to the man who broke the 50-50 deadlock that hampered Democratic ability to get things done in the Senate.

“Strong, inspiring, unifying, never daunted,” Schumer said, referring to Warnock. “He [is] a person who had great faith, who had great strength, who had great conviction … He’s a great man with a great future.”

Admitting he was brought to tears by Warnock’s victory speech, Schumer repeated the words of the pastor’s elderly mother, who marveled that her hands that once picked cotton have now pulled the lever for her son to win a U.S. Senate seat.

“Only in America,” Schumer said. “Only in America.”

Schumer took credit for steering Democrats to a history-defying victory in the midterms, holding every single one of the Senate seats held by the party including Warnock’s.

Despite the unpopularity of President Biden, Democrats even flipped a GOP-held seat in Pennsylvania to give them a 51-49 majority for the next two years.

“All good things come to those who wait and this one was definitely worth the wait,” Schumer said.

The powerful Brooklyn lawmaker rubbed salt in the wounds of losing Republicans by quoting rival Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

“Democrats have done a pretty good job of picking issues that motivate their base and wider support among the public, ” Schumer said, repeating Graham’s own words. “It’s one of the few times I’ll quote Lindsey Graham with approval but he said it.”

Schumer also gave some unrequested advice to Republicans, warning the GOP to move away from Trump and toward the political center if it hopes to improve its fortunes.

He even won some yucks when a reporter’s traffic app interrupted his comments by intoning: “Turn left.”

”Turn left, Republicans,” Schumer chuckled. “Or at least ‘don’t turn hard right’ would be the more appropriate thing to do.”

Democrats effectively controlled the Senate even without the 51st member because Vice President Kamala Harris held a tie-breaking vote.

But Schumer says he can achieve much more, including moving ahead faster with far more judicial appointments, with a 51-seat caucus due to the Senate’s cumbersome rules.

The extra vote gives Democrats a cushion in case of death or other unforeseen issue and also puts them in a stronger position going into 2024 when three Democratic senators face reelection in states Trump won twice.