Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on June 7, 2022 in Washington, DC.Nathan Howard/Getty Images Senate Democrats are feeling hopeful after a string of wins thanks in part to Chuck Schumer. The weekend's passage of a reconciliation deal caps weeks of maneuvering by Schumer as majority leader. The snowballing victories come as Democrats vie to retain control of the Senate this fall. Guiding the Democrats' sweeping reconciliation bill through the 50-50 chamber is a major win for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer following a year-and-a-half of intense negotiations, mounting frustration, and armchair quarterbacking by those who feared he didn't have it in him to muscle things through.