Van Hollen Challenges Schumer for Senate Democratic Leader After Big Win

Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is challenging Chuck Schumer for the top job among Senate Democrats, just as the party prepares to take control of the chamber. Schumer, of New York, says he already has the votes to keep the post, according to ABC News and the BBC.

The vote will be held behind closed doors in early December. The winner takes over the role on Jan. 4, when Democrats take charge of both the Senate and the House, the BBC reported.

What Van Hollen and his supporters say

Van Hollen, 67, announced his bid on Thursday in a post on X. He said voters called for change and that Democrats need new leadership to deliver it. He also said the party should not preserve institutions that fail to deliver for Americans, even if that means shaking things up.

ABC News reported that Van Hollen described himself as an “underdog” but said at least 10 senators back him. In an interview with MS NOW, he said the race was very much in flux, the BBC reported.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent, said he will support Van Hollen, arguing that voters want a party that stands up to powerful special interests and fights for working families. Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed and Minnesota Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan are also backing him. ABC News said Sen. Elissa Slotkin and other incoming Democrats have called for new leadership without endorsing a candidate.

What Schumer and his supporters say

Schumer, 75, has led Senate Democrats since 2017 and was first elected to the Senate in 1999, according to the BBC. He said he welcomes discussion about the future of the caucus, is proud of what Democrats achieved together, and has the votes to continue as leader. ABC News said he would be seeking a sixth two-year term.

Schumer's allies point to the election results. Democrats flipped eight Senate seats, according to ABC News, and will go from the minority to at least a 55-45 majority when the new Senate is sworn in. The race in Alaska has not been projected, and a Democratic win there would add to that margin.

Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, asked, “Why would you fire the manager when you just won the World Series?” Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada also endorsed Schumer, with Rosen citing his experience. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said she expected enormous gratitude toward him despite what she called grumblings.

The Republican National Committee's national press secretary criticized Van Hollen and said the contest previews Democratic infighting.

How the leadership vote works

The election is by secret ballot. A candidate needs a simple majority of the Democratic conference. Newly elected senators can vote, but outgoing senators cannot, ABC News reported.

Depending on the Alaska result, either 55 or 56 Democrats will vote, so the winner will need either 28 or 29 supporters. No date has been officially announced.

What this means for Democrats and voters

The leader sets the Senate Democratic agenda and speaks for the party as it moves from the minority to the majority. The BBC described Van Hollen's move as the most significant step yet by a high-profile Democrat to challenge existing party leadership after the midterms.

The contest also shows a split over what voters wanted. Van Hollen and his backers read the results as a demand for change, while Schumer's supporters read them as a vote of confidence in the current team. In recent years, the BBC noted, Van Hollen has taken positions popular with the left of his party, including backing limits on weapons shipments to Israel in 2024.