Washington, D.C. — After Senate Democrats’ surrendered and voted to end the 41-day government shutdown without securing any commitments to lower health care costs or protect working families, Indivisible announced today that it will launch its largest primary program ever run in the organization’s history:
“Chuck Schumer and a critical mass of Senate Democrats surrendered. For nearly six weeks, Republicans held the government hostage while threatening health care, food assistance, and basic services for millions of Americans. In these six weeks of the shutdown, Democrats had their best election night in over a decade, polls showed Republicans were losing this shutdown fight, and their base turned out for the largest protest in modern U.S. history with a resounding rejection of Trump and Republicans,” said Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible. “Instead of standing with that energy, Senate Democrats surrendered – yet again. That’s why Indivisible is launching our largest primary program yet.
“This is no longer about them - it’s about us. We’re done waiting for Democrats to find their spine. We can’t afford a weak and cowardly Democratic Party while the authoritarians invade our cities, terrorize our communities, and threaten our democracy. We get the party we demand, and we intend to demand a Democratic Party that fights.”
“A key faction of Senate Democrats have, once again, shown us they have no fight left in them. They ended this shutdown in exchange for nothing but empty promises from the same Republicans who lied their way into this crisis in the first place - in direct opposition to public sentiment generally, and from Democratic voters specifically,” said Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible. “Our democracy is facing an existential threat. We need leaders with backbone and conviction – not timidity and excuses. Democrats can’t defeat authoritarianism by running from the fight. It’s in our hands to make sure those who can’t fight make space for the leaders who can. Indivisible is ready to clean house and build a party that actually has the energy to act like an opposition.”
The primary program will be guided by Indivisible’s national grassroots network, which is already mobilizing to identify and support candidates who will fight with conviction for democracy, freedom, and working families. Indivisible groups across the country will help determine where to focus resources and which primary challenges to pursue.
Ahead of the 2026 primaries, Indivisible will be activating it’s network to support progressive fighters who are challenging feckless, status-quo-loving incumbents. In a recent movement survey, 98.67% of Indivisible’s base said they wanted Senate Democrats to keep fighting. The first two criteria for Indivisible’s support center that desire for fight:
- For Senate Candidates: Firmly committed to opposing Schumer as Senate Majority Leader.
- For every Democratic primary candidate: a clear commitment to abandon the status quo of feckless leadership, and use every tool available to fight MAGA attacks on our communities, our health, and our democracy.
This week, we are kicking off with the following calls to action to meet the moment:
- Call on Schumer to Step Aside: Call Senate Democrats and demand they call on Senator Schumer to step aside.
- Demand House Democrats Fight Back: Call Democratic Representatives in the House and tell the not to be the party to surrender or we’ll remember it next year.
- Sign Up to Rebuild the Democratic Party: Pledge to get involved in work to support candidates in the primaries who are committed to combating the regime.
- Send Schumer + Surrender Caucus a Message: Submit a message for Indivisible to share with Senator Schumer and the Surrender Caucus.
More details to come as the races begin to take shape. In the coming months, Indivisible will begin endorsing candidates and directing the network of activists to focus on helping elect challengers in early 2025. In past cycles, Indivisible has reached millions of voters through phone calls, texts, and canvasses to help them win. In 2026, these tactics will be scaling these past primary efforts to the largest size yet.
Earlier this year, Indivisible called on Senator Schumer to step aside as Democratic Majority Leader following his surrender in the March budget fight. Since then, there have been consistent good faith efforts to work with Democratic leadership to deliver for working families. Those efforts have been unsuccessful.
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Indivisible Action (PAC) channels grassroots energy into electing progressive candidates who will work towards an inclusive democracy that provides for the needs of all people. Indivisible Action provides tools, training and strategic guidance to local Indivisible groups as they flex their electoral power. Indivisible Action also makes its own endorsements of federal and gubernatorial candidates, grounded in endorsements made by local Indivisible activists.