FACTS
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is challenging Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York for Senate Democratic leader, a post that will carry the title of majority leader after Democrats won control of the Senate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Van Hollen announced his bid on Thursday, Nov. 12, and made his first public appearance as a candidate on Friday, Nov. 13, in Denver. Senate Democrats are scheduled to choose their leader by secret ballot on Dec. 1.
Van Hollen’s case for new leadership
In a statement on his Senate website, Van Hollen said voters called for change from President Donald Trump’s policies and from a status quo that is not working for working people. “This is not about any one person,” he said, adding that his run is about “answering the call of the American people.”
On X, he wrote that Americans voted to “unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption,” and that “to deliver, we need new leadership,” CBS News reported.
Speaking Friday at the “What’s Next” conference in Denver, Van Hollen urged Democrats to “go toe to toe” with Trump, according to The Associated Press. “We’ve been given a chance. It’s up to us to meet this moment,” he said. He told the crowd that voters “fired the Trump policies” but “have not fully hired us,” and that “a lot of my colleagues want to see a whole new approach to governing.” He called for more bills on the Senate floor and a major role for newly elected senators, the AP reported.
Van Hollen, 67, told reporters in Denver he is no longer considering a presidential run, saying the “size and scale of these majority provides an opportunity for the United States Senate,” the AP reported. He has called himself the underdog.
He has said Democrats should use the Dec. 11 government funding deadline as leverage over Iran war funding, and that “we shouldn’t have a Democratic leader who is getting involved in picking sides in open Democratic primaries.”
Schumer says he has the votes
Schumer, 75, has led Senate Democrats since 2017. In a statement Thursday, he said he welcomes “any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead,” CBS News reported. He called “55 seats and counting” an “amazing result” and said, “I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader.” He added, “I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.” Schumer told the AP, “I’m going to win it.”
His supporters say the job is difficult and experience matters, and they point to his legislative wins when Democrats held the Senate under President Joe Biden and his leadership through last year’s government shutdown, according to the AP. Schumer also recruited many of this year’s winning candidates and raised money for them, the AP reported.
Which senators back each candidate
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent, endorsed Van Hollen. “The American people voted for change,” Sanders wrote, according to CBS News. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon also backed Van Hollen, posting that “politics as usual is unacceptable,” the AP reported. Sens.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan and Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota also support him. Flanagan called Van Hollen “the leader and fighter we need to bring about real change,” ABC News reported. Van Hollen says he has the support of at least 10 senators, according to ABC News.
Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent, is backing Schumer. “Why would you fire the manager when you just won the World Series?” King wrote. Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and incoming Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown also support Schumer, ABC News and the AP reported. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, praised his “strategic leadership,” CBS News reported.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has called for change but has not endorsed anyone. “I’m a no until and unless I see that from anyone,” she said, according to CBS News. Most Democratic senators have backed Schumer or remain undecided, the AP reported.
How the Senate Democratic leader vote works
The vote is set for Dec. 1, behind closed doors in the Capitol, by secret ballot, and a simple majority is needed, the AP reported, as did Punchbowl News. The AP said it would be the first contested Senate Democratic leadership race in decades.
Only senators serving in the new Congress vote, ABC News reported. Democrats will hold at least 55 seats in January, with Alaska’s Senate race still uncalled, so the winner will need 28 or 29 votes, according to ABC News.
More coverage is in the Stay Current News Politics section.
