Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced Thursday night that he will run for Senate majority leader, setting up a challenge to Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017. Schumer says he has the votes to keep the job.
The contest will be decided by a secret-ballot vote of Democratic senators scheduled for December, according to Roll Call. Democrats will hold 55 seats in the new Senate after this month’s midterm elections, and the caucus could grow to 56 depending on the outcome of the race in Alaska, Roll Call reported.
Van Hollen’s case
Van Hollen, first elected to the Senate in 2016, previously held leadership posts in the House and has chaired both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He said voters want change and framed his bid as a response to the electorate rather than a referendum on Schumer personally, according to Roll Call.
He has laid out an agenda that includes restoring Medicaid funding cut in last year’s budget reconciliation law, extending Affordable Care Act tax credits, barring public subsidies for data centers and setting a livable minimum wage, Roll Call reported. He also pledged not to take sides in contested Democratic primaries. Van Hollen acknowledged he is the underdog.
Earlier this month, Van Hollen had said he was not looking to be the next leader but that the job “should not be automatic,” Newsweek reported. Days later, a person familiar with his thinking said he had received an outpouring of calls and was “in active listening mode.”
Schumer’s case
Schumer said he has the votes to remain leader and welcomes a discussion about the caucus’s future, pointing to Democrats’ 55 seats as a strong result, according to Roll Call. Because the vote is internal, he needs only a majority of Democratic senators.
Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, backed Schumer, praising his plan for the majority and his experience. “Why would you fire the manager when you just won the World Series?” King asked, Roll Call reported. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona also plans to support Schumer, according to Newsweek.
Where others stand
- Backing Van Hollen: Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, according to Roll Call and Newsweek.
- Calling for new leadership: Senators-elect Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Troy Jackson of Maine and Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota have opposed another Schumer term or called for change, Newsweek reported.
- Undeclared: Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin declined to back Schumer, Newsweek reported, and Upstormed News reported earlier this week that Sen. Bernie Sanders won’t back Schumer.
- Outside groups: Indivisible wants a contested election without endorsing a candidate, while RootsAction has urged Van Hollen to run, according to Newsweek.
The other side of the aisle
Senate Republicans, who will be in the minority, voted this week to keep John Thune of South Dakota as their leader, as we have been following. Leadership fights after an election are common in both parties as members debate their direction.
What to watch next
Watch for more senators and senators-elect to announce how they will vote, and for the December date of the caucus election. Upstormed News will follow the race.
Why it matters for families
The Senate majority leader decides which bills reach the floor and when. Whoever wins will shape the Senate’s agenda on issues families care about, from health care costs to the economy, for at least the next two years.
What qualities matter most to you in a congressional leader? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments.
Read more: Sanders won’t back Schumer as Senate Democrats debate who leads new majority
Sources: Roll Call, “Van Hollen announces bid for majority leader, but Schumer says he has the votes” (November 12, 2026); Newsweek, Chris Van Hollen and the Schumer leadership challenge (November 9, 2026); CBS News, “Chris Van Hollen announces he will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader” (November 12, 2026); WCAX, “Senate Republicans vote to keep Thune as leader” (November 10, 2026)
Leave a Reply