Van Hollen calls himself an underdog in a race he calls ‘very much in flux’
Senators Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Kirsten Gillibrand have publicly backed Chuck Schumer, while Independent Senator Bernie Sanders and Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed have publicly come out in support of Chris Van Hollen, as the two contest leadership of the Senate Democrats. Others have also called for new leadership.
Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada said: “He has the experience and the fight to continue leading our diverse caucus at this crucial moment.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said: “You will see, despite all the grumblings, enormous gratitude for the hard work he has done to get us to this position.”
In a post on X, Sanders said Van Hollen “will stand up to powerful special interests, take on the billionaire class and fight for working families.”
El-Sayed said Van Hollen would bring “bold leadership” and lead with both “courage and experience.”
In an interview with MS NOW, Van Hollen acknowledged that he is an “underdog” but said he believes the race is “very much in flux.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said Thursday that he will challenge Senator Chuck Schumer of New York for leadership of the Senate Democrats, marking the most significant step by a high-profile Democrat to contest the party’s existing leadership since its midterm election victory last week.
Van Hollen, 67, announced the challenge in a post on X. He wrote that Americans voted for change earlier this month and that “to deliver, we need new leadership.” Americans, he wrote, had called on the party to “unrig an economy rigged against working people.”
Schumer, 75, has led Democrats in the chamber since 2017, serving as both majority and minority leader, and was first elected to the Senate in 1999. Since the midterms earlier this month, his position has come under pressure from some left-wing Democrats who see him as too moderate and part of the party establishment.
Responding to the challenge, Schumer said he welcomes “any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead.” He said he is “proud of what we’ve accomplished together” in the midterms and that he has “the votes to continue as Democratic leader.”
The vote on Senate leader will be held behind closed doors in early December. The winner will assume the role on 4 January, when Democrats take control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives after their midterm successes.
Van Hollen, who represents Maryland and has served in the Senate for nearly a decade, has in recent years taken positions popular with the left of his party. In 2024, he supported restricting weapons shipments to Israel and criticized the Biden administration over its role in the war in Gaza.