Republicans control the chamber in a 53-47 majority. But legislation normally needs 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles in the Senate, meaning they need help from Democrats.

"We have tried to pass the Violence Against Women Act many times. ... The House passed it over 200 days ago. Sen. Ernst is simply afraid of the NRA," Schumer told reporters.

"Let her ask Leader McConnell, make a unanimous consent request to bring the House-passed bill on the floor and we'll debate it, and we'll debate her amendment," Schumer continued. "By the way, she just introduced it today, so she's a bit, no pun intended, jumping the gun."

It wouldn't be the first time election-year politics have bled over into the internal dynamics of the Senate.

During the 2016 election cycle, Senate Democratic leaders discouraged their colleagues throughout the year from working with vulnerable Republican senators, lawmakers in both parties told The Hill at the time