{"id":2647682,"date":"2026-08-21T07:34:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T11:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-and-schumer-avoid-recess-travel-blitz-amid-increasing-unpopularity\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T07:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T11:36:17","slug":"thune-and-schumer-avoid-recess-travel-blitz-amid-increasing-unpopularity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-and-schumer-avoid-recess-travel-blitz-amid-increasing-unpopularity\/","title":{"rendered":"Thune and Schumer avoid recess travel blitz amid increasing unpopularity"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthune-and-schumer-avoid-recess-travel-blitz-amid-increasing-unpopularity%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2647682&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>During the August recess, Senate leaders John Thune (R-SD) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have maintained a low profile despite typically campaigning during this period. Thune has faced criticism for his inability to pass the voter ID and election integrity bill known as the SAVE America Act, which has led to tension with the White House and calls from former President Trump to cancel the recess until the bill is passed. Thune has been active in campaigning across various states, but remains unpopular, with a CNN poll showing low approval ratings. Similarly, Schumer&#8217;s popularity has also waned, with some Democratic candidates campaigning against him, and he has been scrutinized for his voting record and perceived lack of aggressive action against Trump. The Republican side is focused on defending key senate seats in states like North Carolina, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Iowa, with some races shifting toward Democrats. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson has spent August traveling nationally, including visits to Maine and Virginia. Both leaders face challenges in their strategies and electoral prospects ahead of the midterms.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">August recess typically offers a prime time for party leaders to barnstorm the country in support of their candidates in battleground races.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"178\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) and Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"384\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) have had a quiet <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congressional-recess\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4090\">recess<\/a> amid discontent from their respective bases.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4695245\/thune-schumer-avoid-recess-travel-blitz-amid-unpopularity\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thune and Schumer avoid recess travel blitz amid increasing unpopularity<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4695305\/virginia-democrat-second-home-outside-district-promising-to-relocate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Virginia Democrat bought second home outside of her congressional district after promising to relocate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4694753\/paige-cognetti-ice-cooperation-comments-pennsylvania-house-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paige Cognetti\u2019s past opposition to police cooperation with ICE resurfaces in Pennsylvania House race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune and Schumer are unpopular, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28524353-cnn-july-poll-conducted-by-ssrs-midterms-parties\/?utm_source=newsletter&#038;utm_medium=email&#038;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiossneakpeek&#038;stream=top&#038;q=jeffries&#038;mode=document#document\/p8\">according to<\/a> a CNN poll last month. Thune came in at 12% favorable and 26% unfavorable, while Schumer was at 15% favorable and 44% unfavorable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schumer has taken heat over the last two years as more Democrats call on him to pass the torch and that he has not done enough to combat President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schumer\u2019s unpopularity may have even made him a liability on the campaign trail. Some candidates, including Abdul el Sayed in Michigan and Graham Platner in Maine, who has since suspended his campaign after allegations of sexual misconduct, explicitly campaigned on opposing him for Democratic leader.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune, for his part, has drawn the ire of the GOP base as the SAVE America Act \u2014 the voter ID and election integrity bill championed by Trump \u2014 remains stuck in Senate purgatory without the votes to break the filibuster.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A source familiar told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Thune has spent time on the campaign trail throughout August, in addition to attending agriculture events in South Dakota to discuss the farm bill and E15 gas. He has also been continuously ridiculed in the comments of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tyler-robinson-gets-better-police-protection-than-charlie-kirk-did\/\" title=\"Tyler Robinson Gets Better Police Protection Than Charlie Kirk Did\">social media posts detailing<\/a> his stops across South Dakota, as people call on him to pass the SAVE America Act.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4693255\/maine-to-alaska-johnson-crisscrosses-country-august-recess-tossup-gop-contests\/\"><strong>FROM MAINE TO ALASKA, JOHNSON CRISSCROSSES COUNTRY DURING AUGUST RECESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"fb-post\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LeaderJohnThune\/posts\/pfbid029s7HHiNaLF3qAAGmro5cBsvT65kenwZvQdUAyo9V8RXZjaW4Hqf7eUm1Fbmt5Yevl?rdid=8h1dTlzIoccFBySs#\" data-width=\"552\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block;\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune\u2019s inability to shepherd the bill across the finish line has led to some tense moments with the White House, with Trump calling him out in the Oval Office and urging Thune to cancel August recess to pass the bill.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJohn Thune should not allow the United States\u00a0 Senate to \u2018leave town\u2019 until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER, where Republicans can then quickly pass everything they ever dreamed of, including a full and deep throated SAVE AMERICA ACT, the Budget, and the ever looming Debt Ceiling disaster, 1929!\u201d the president <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116992066632190700\">wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Schumer\u2019s office for comment as to his whereabouts. His social media presence has been quiet about travels, though he is known to keep a 62-county tradition in which he travels to each county in New York during the monthlong break. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schumer has been at odds with his base for folding on issues popular to the Democratic electorate, particularly after he voted last year in favor of one of the GOP-backed continuing resolutions funding the government.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vote only heightened calls for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to challenge Schumer in 2028 and for Senate Democrats to nominate new leadership.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are defending states like North Carolina, Maine, and Ohio, along with Texas and Iowa, two states that look increasingly competitive this cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats would need to flip four Republican-held seats and defend critical states in Michigan, New Hampshire, and Georgia to regain control of the Senate. Democrats\u2019 chances of defending Michigan might have taken a dent after el Sayed, a progressive, won the primary over the more centrist Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), who was backed by Schumer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4694781\/texas-iowa-senate-races-shift-democrat-cook-political-report\/\">TEXAS AND IOWA SENATE RACES SHIFT TOWARD DEMOCRATS: COOK POLITICAL REPORT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"fb-post\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/senschumer\/posts\/pfbid02RbtQmcSueKyJwxgxC7aAKaaTcTdRnPz6f8hovxtcVkk3ApqgtGHgjqUs7j77e1B8l?rdid=iYRBWS4sckVvI3q6#\" data-width=\"552\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block;\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has crisscrossed the country throughout August, including stops in both Maine and Virginia on Monday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune and Schumer stay quiet during August recess amid party discontent<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3691,"featured_media":2647683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-mbk85v0q6-1787266202918-e1787266450464.jpg?1787252041&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4402,5894,27545,4411,23610],"class_list":["post-2647682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congress","tag-politics","tag-recess","tag-schumer","tag-thune"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-mbk85v0q6-1787266202918-e1787266450464.jpg?1787252041&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3691"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2647682"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647686,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647682\/revisions\/2647686"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2647683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2647682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2647682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2647682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}