Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen says he will challenge New York Sen. Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader in the new Congress.
In a social media post, Van Hollen said the party needs “new leadership” following the midterm elections in which Democrats won enough seats to take control of the chamber.
“This isn’t about any one person — it’s about answering that call,” Van Hollen said in the post.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration; the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the on Capitol Hill, Tuesday May 12, 2026, in Washington.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
In an appearance on MSNOW on Thursday announcing his bid, Van Hollen, a two-term senator, said: “This is a generational opportunity for the Senate to respond to the call of the American people for change … They’ve given us a chance. We have to earn their trust, and my view is that you can’t earn that trust with old leadership. You need to move on to new leadership.”
Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017, quickly responded to the news of the challenge, saying he welcomes “discussion about the future of our caucus” while also confidently adding “I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader.”
“I welcome any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead. 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. I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people,” he posted on X.
The Senate Democratic leadership elections are expected to be held in December. A leader is selected based on a majority vote of the caucus.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026.
Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo
Van Hollen acknowledged he was the underdog in the leadership elections but remained optimistic that he could garner support from his Senate colleagues.
“Now people will have to make a decision, one way or the other, and they have to decide whether they want to vote for change or whether they want to vote for the status quo.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
