At least five incoming Democratic senators oppose Schumer as majority leader

Hamilton said his opponent mentioned Schumer "17 or 18 times" across their two debates and that many Kansans "perceive him to be further to the left and somebody who's a divisive figure." He said he wants "a leader who can lead from the center, somebody who can bring Republicans and Democrats together," but has no short list yet. He said he has told Schumer directly. Hamilton is the first Democrat to win a Kansas Senate seat in 94 years, The Guardian reported.

El-Sayed said he wants a leader who will deliver on his campaign goals, including "Medicare for All," and named Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland as someone he admires, while noting Van Hollen "has his eyes set on other goals." Schumer backed El-Sayed's primary opponent this summer; El-Sayed said the two later "figured out how to work together" to win the Michigan seat.

Schumer's position: At a news conference the day after the election, Schumer said, "The issue is not me. I'll be re-elected as majority leader. But the issue is focusing on the American people and what they want," Fox News reported. He needs a simple majority of the Democratic caucus in a closed-door vote. Fox News said no incumbent Democratic senator has publicly opposed him and no one else has sought the job. Schumer, 75, has led Senate Democrats since 2017, The Guardian noted.

Hamilton also told NBC he would be "deeply disappointed" if he spent his first two years in the Senate on investigations of President Trump. He said Congress should focus on clawing back tariffs and ending the war with Iran, and warned the wave could be "one and done" if Democrats don't deliver. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, also on the program, said Hamilton "made a good point" and that "we cannot spend all of our time investigating Trump."

How outlets counted it — original layer: Fox News counted five senators-elect who have publicly said they will oppose Schumer: Hamilton, El-Sayed, Juliana Stratton of Illinois, Troy Jackson of Maine and Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota. Fox said James Talarico of Texas had not taken a position. The Guardian's longer list of senators-elect who have declined to support Schumer also includes Talarico, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire and Annie Andrews of South Carolina, who told Fox News's Bret Baier "it's time for generational change on both sides of the aisle." Declining to commit is not the same as pledging a vote against him, which is why the counts differ.

What's still unknown: Whether any sitting Democratic senator will back a challenger, whether anyone will formally run against Schumer, and the date of the caucus vote, which has not been announced. Watch for an alternative candidate to emerge before Democrats organize for the new Congress in January.

Built from the NBC News "Meet the Press" and ABC News "This Week" transcripts of Nov. 8, NBC News and The Hill coverage of the Sunday shows, Fox News coverage of Schumer's Nov. 4 news conference, and The Guardian's Nov. 6 tally. Outlets differ on how many senators-elect oppose Schumer; we use Fox News's count of five firm public opponents and note The Guardian's longer list.