Van Hollen challenges Schumer for Senate majority leader; Schumer says he has votes

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, has announced that he will run for Senate majority leader in the next Congress. He is challenging Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. The Guardian and the Associated Press both reported the announcement.

Democrats will hold the Senate majority in the next Congress following the midterm elections. The new majority takes power in January.

Van Hollen said in a statement posted on social media that voters "called for change" and that "we need new leadership". Schumer replied in a social media post that he has "the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader", according to The Guardian.

According to The Guardian, Van Hollen made the announcement on Thursday. He first posted on social media and released a formal statement a few minutes later. The Guardian reported that Schumer's response came less than a minute after Van Hollen's announcement.

The Guardian reported that the leadership election will be a closed-door, secret-ballot vote in early December. It described the race as the first contested election for Democratic leader in decades. Van Hollen had previously said he was considering a bid, the outlet reported.

According to The Guardian, the question of re-electing Schumer has divided the Democratic caucus. Many senators will not say publicly how they will vote. The outlet reported that Schumer recruited many of the party's winning Senate candidates and raised money for them, though some winners did not initially have his support. He has been talking to Democratic senators about an agenda for 2027, it reported.

Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed endorsed Van Hollen in a social media statement, The Guardian reported. El-Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens, Schumer's preferred candidate, in Michigan's Democratic primary in August.

The Guardian also noted that Van Hollen visited El Salvador in early 2025 and demanded to check on the condition of Kilmar Ábrego, a constituent who had been deported there.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a count of senators backing either candidate. Schumer's claim to have the votes has not been independently confirmed in these reports. The reports also do not give an exact date for the vote or the final size of the majority.

What each side says

Van Hollen said: "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." He discussed his run in an interview with MSNOW, according to The Guardian.

Schumer said: "I welcome any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead." He cited "55 seats and counting" as the party's result, a figure that is his own. According to The Guardian, Schumer told the Associated Press last week: "I'm going to win it."

El-Sayed said: "The American public spoke clearly last week. They rejected Trumpism. But we have yet to earn our mandate. That will require bold leadership."

Analysis

The contest tests how Senate Democrats read their midterm result. One view, voiced by Van Hollen and El-Sayed, is that voters asked for new leadership. Another, voiced by Schumer, is that the party's gains support continuity. Because the vote is secret and many senators are silent, public statements may not show the real balance of support. If Schumer wins, the challenge could still shape the caucus agenda. If Van Hollen wins, it would mark a rare leadership change. Either outcome may affect how incoming senators relate to party leaders. The reports reviewed do not allow a reliable forecast.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.