US Senator Chris Van Hollen said Thursday that he is running for Senate majority leader, challenging longtime Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
“In this election, Americans called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption,” Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, said on X.
“To deliver, we need new leadership. This isn’t about any one person – it’s about answering that call,” he said. “That’s why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader.”
In this election, Americans called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption. To deliver, we need new leadership. This isn’t about any one person – it’s about answering that call. That’s why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader.
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) November 13, 2026
Schumer replied on X, saying: “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 said.
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.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 13, 2026
Democrats won control of the Senate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections and will take over the majority in January. The caucus will choose its leader by secret ballot on Dec. 1, and Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017, needs a simple majority of the Democratic caucus to retain the leadership position and become majority leader.
Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan endorsed Van Hollen shortly after the announcement.
“The American public spoke clearly last week. They rejected Trumpism. But we have yet to earn our mandate. That will require bold leadership,” he said on X.
The American public spoke clearly last week. They rejected Trumpism. But we have yet to earn our mandate. That will require bold leadership. I called on Sen. @ChrisVanHollen to lead our caucus as a candidate back in April because he leads with courage and experience. We need both right now. Which is why I’m proud to stand with him in his bid to lead our Senate majority.
— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) November 13, 2026
Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Tuesday that he would not back Schumer. “The time is now for change,” he said.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin has also called for new leadership. So have incoming senators Annie Andrews of South Carolina, Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Troy Jackson of Maine and Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota. None of them has yet said whether they will vote for Van Hollen.
Some Democrats have stood by Schumer, citing the party’s gains.
“When the manager takes you to the World Series, you give them another contract,” Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego told reporters this week.
Speaking Tuesday at a post-election Democratic gathering in Washington, Van Hollen criticized Schumer and the party’s Senate campaign arm over their role in primaries.
“We have two members in that room, newly elected senators, who would not be there if Schumer and the DSCC had had their way,” he said, referring to El-Sayed and Flanagan. “(They) sided with the crypto industry and AIPAC against these candidates.”
Van Hollen entered the Senate in 2017 after serving 14 years in the House of Representatives.
He is among the most outspoken Democratic critics of the Israeli government. In September 2025, he and Senator Jeff Merkley released a report concluding that Israel was carrying out “a campaign of ethnic cleansing in Gaza.”
In April 2025, he was one of 15 senators who voted for resolutions to block $8.8 billion in weapons sales to Israel. He has backed similar measures since then. All of them have failed.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)