MSNBC host Symone Sanders Townsend reportedly shocked her colleagues by announcing her departure from the Democratic Party during a live broadcast.
Townsend expressed her frustration over Senator Chuck Schumer’s decision to support a Republican-led continuing resolution, which she criticized as a failure of leadership.
Having previously served as a press secretary for Senator Bernie Sanders and as a senior adviser to both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Townsend’s resignation marks a significant moment given her extensive ties to prominent Democrats.
She stated that Schumer and the ten Senate Democrats who voted with him had “blew it” and “folded like a paper napkin” when faced with pressure.
MSNBC host Symone Sanders Townsend announces live on air she’s quitting Dem Party over Schumer siding with GOP on spending bill https://t.co/08io42AIau pic.twitter.com/v8vua7aou3
— New York Post (@nypost) March 17, 2025
In her announcement, Townsend declared her intention to register as an independent, emphasizing her anger at the party’s current direction.
Despite her disappointment with the Senate, she praised House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats for their unified stance against the spending bill, noting that only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden, broke ranks.
Townsend lamented that in the 2024 elections, Democrats warned voters about the dangers posed by Trump and his allies.
Yet, she argued that now, when they had a meaningful opportunity to push back, they hesitated.
She expressed concern that Schumer’s actions might inspire a grassroots movement within the party, suggesting that a more defiant faction could emerge as a response to perceived weakness.
Her resignation reflects growing discontent among progressives regarding the party’s failing leadership and strategy.
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