Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, has announced a bid to become Senate Democratic leader, challenging incumbent Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York. The contest follows Democrats’ strong showing in the midterm elections and is expected to be decided by a closed-door, secret ballot vote in early December.
Schumer, the current Senate minority leader, said Thursday that he has the votes to keep the job. “I welcome any discussion about the future of the caucus,” he said in a statement. “I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader.”
Some progressives have publicly urged Schumer to step aside, while many Democrats have not said how they will vote. Van Hollen argued that voters want a break from President Donald Trump’s policies and from the party’s current leadership. He said voters were not necessarily endorsing Democrats, and that the party had been given an opportunity it needs to use well.
If Van Hollen succeeds, it would mark a leadership change at the top of the Senate Democratic caucus. The race is also the first contested election for the post in decades, a sign of the divisions that could shape the party’s direction.
