Van Hollen Challenges Schumer for Senate Majority Leader

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen announced on Thursday, November 12, that he will challenge New York Senator Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader, opening a leadership fight inside the Democratic caucus days after the party won both chambers in the midterms. Van Hollen made the announcement in an interview with MS NOW host Jen Psaki, Reuters, CNN and USA Today reported.

"This is not about any one individual, but it is about answering the call of the American people," Van Hollen said in the interview, calling his candidacy a response to what he described as a huge outburst of democracy in the midterms. "The call was really to reject the status quo and to reject business as usual," he added. "And to do that, I think we need new leadership." He told Reuters voters had called for "a change from the status quo that isn't working for working people," and added: "It's now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership."

The vote ahead

Senate Democrats will choose their leader in a closed ballot election scheduled for December 1, CNN reported. Schumer needs support from a majority of his caucus to win. Democrats have flipped eight seats so far in the midterms and will enter January with at least 55 senators. Schumer, 75, has led the Senate Democratic caucus since 2017.

Schumer answered within hours. "I welcome any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead," he posted on X. "I'm proud of what we've accomplished together, 55 seats and counting is an amazing result, and I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader." Reuters reported that Schumer released a statement of his own on Thursday saying he had the votes to continue serving as the Democratic leader in the Senate.

Van Hollen conceded that he starts as the underdog. He said he has talked to most Senate Democrats and believes the race is very much in flux, and he told Psaki he had more than 10 commitments and expected his support to grow now that colleagues know he is running. He quickly won backing from incoming freshman Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who had suggested for weeks that he could support him.

Two records, two pitches

Van Hollen, 67, has served in the Senate since 2017 after 14 years in the House, and has held leadership posts in both chambers. He said he would use the full power of the Senate to respond to voters who want the Iran war ended and the cost of living lowered, and he promised he would not intervene in primaries for open Senate seats, as he accused Schumer of doing.

Support inside the caucus is split in public. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said this week that he will not support Schumer for another term as leader. Maine Senator Angus King, also an independent who caucuses with Democrats, endorsed Schumer. Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand praised Schumer for retaking the majority.

The announcement closed a week of shifting answers. On Saturday Van Hollen told CNN that seeking the job was not his focus and that he was also interested in running for president. On Thursday afternoon he said he was still actively listening to members. By Thursday evening, he was in the race.