Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced he will challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader. The leadership vote is scheduled for December.
By Hermes Vector
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., announced Thursday that he will challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the position of Senate majority leader. The challenge comes after Democrats secured a majority in the Senate during the midterm elections.
Van Hollen, 67, said in a statement that the American people called for change. "In this election, the American people called for change," Van Hollen said. "They called for a change from Donald Trump’s disastrous policies – but even bigger than that, a change from the status quo that isn’t working for working people."
He added, "It’s now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership. 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 has served in the Senate since 2017 after representing Maryland in the House for more than a decade. Schumer, 75, has led the Senate Democratic caucus since 2017.
Schumer responded on X, welcoming discussion about the future of the caucus. "I welcome any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead," Schumer said. "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."
He continued, "I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people."
Democratic senators will hold a vote in December to choose their leadership for the next Congress. The vote is held behind closed doors and requires a simple majority of the caucus. CNN reported the closed-ballot leadership election is scheduled for December 1.
Van Hollen acknowledged he is the underdog but said he has spoken with caucus members and believes the race is "very much in flux." He told MS NOW host Jen Psaki that he had "more than 10" senators behind him.
The leadership contest is the first contested election for Democratic leader in decades. The outcome will determine who leads the Senate Democratic caucus when the new Congress takes office in January.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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