New Democrats elect Schneider chair for the 119th Congress

WASHINGTON — The center-left New Democrat Coalition elected Rep. Brad Schneider to be its chair in the next Congress, as the caucus with a reputation for reaching across the aisle to strike deals grapples with how to navigate a second Trump administration.

The Illinois Democrat, who has twice flipped his district in the wealthy Chicago suburbs, defeated Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., for the chairmanship of the New Dems, the biggest caucus among House Democrats.

Schneider, a moderate, pitched his New Dems colleagues on his experience doing nearly every job within the caucus, from vice chair of communications, the position he currently holds, to chairing the New Dem Action Fund, the group’s political arm, to leading a policy taskforce.

“I talked about my vision of New Dems as a large and now even larger coalition working to elevate and help our members succeed, both here in Congress and at home in their districts,” he said in an interview before the vote.

The caucus added at least 23 new members in the election, despite voters’ rightward shift, a net gain of at least eight compared to their current 100-member roster.

Schneider first arrived in Congress in 2013 with a diverse business background, having spent time in consulting, insurance and marketing. He lost his reelection bid in 2014, only to take back his seat in 2016.

He holds seats on the powerful Ways and Means Committee along with House Foreign Relations, where he’s carved out a voice on his side of the dais for fiscal responsibility — he’s called for new spending to be offset — and strong U.S.-Israel relations. He’s also a vocal advocate for gun control.

During the 2024 election cycle, he raised about $3.9 million between his campaign and leadership PAC, according to Federal Election Committee filings.

In the wake of the election and coming Republican trifecta, Schneider modified his pitch to colleagues to emphasize his experience during the first Trump administration, the last time the GOP held the White House, House and Senate. Davids, his opponent, was elected in 2018 when Democrats took control of the House.

“I’ve been here before. I know how we can best stand up for the values and priorities that our coalition represents and the people who elected us want us to focus on,” he said.

Schneider and the caucus, which has a reputation for pragmatism and legislative productivity, will have to balance when it’s possible to work with the Republican majority, and when to resist.

“The most important thing, I think, New Dems will do in the minority is shine a light on irresponsible actions that might be taken, but (also) working together with anyone who is open to sharing ideas, solving problems and working to develop legislation that will advance the nation,” he said.

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