Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced Thursday that he will seek the position of Senate majority leader in the next Congress, challenging Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer after the party captured control in the midterm elections.
In a statement, Van Hollen said the election results showed that “the American people called for change,” prompting him to enter the leadership race.
“It’s now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership,” Van Hollen said. “This is not about any one person — it’s about answering the call of the American people. That is why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader.”
Van Hollen’s bid follows his earlier comments that he was weighing a challenge, while Schumer has maintained that he has enough support to prevail. The Democratic caucus is scheduled to hold its closed-door, secret-ballot leadership election in early December.
CONTINUE READING: Bill Maher Warns Democrats After Left’s Sweeping Midterm Wins
The contest would mark the first competitive election for Democratic leader in decades. The question of whether Schumer should remain in the post has divided the caucus, and many senators have declined to publicly disclose how they intend to vote.
Democratic senators have privately debated what message voters sent in the election. Schumer, meanwhile, helped recruit many of the party’s successful candidates and raised funds on their behalf.
Schumer has also been speaking with Democratic senators since the election as he works to shape the party’s agenda for 2027.
“I’m going to win it,” Schumer told The Associated Press in an interview last week.
