Democratic civil war erupts as Van Hollen challenges Chuck Schumer - The Independent

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Chris Van Hollen, the Democratic senator from Maryland, will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate Majority Leader in the next Congress.

He announced on Thursday that he is running, after his party swept to power in the midterm elections. Van Hollen said in a statement that “the American people called for change,” which is why he is running. “It’s now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership,” Van Hollen said. “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.”

In a statement issued after Van Hollen's announcement, Schumer said he welcomes any discussion about the future of the caucus. “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,” Schumer said. “I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.”

Schumer has said he has the support he needs to win the race. The contest will be the first contested election for Senate Democratic leader in decades. A closed-door, secret-ballot election will decide it in early December. The question of whether to reelect Schumer had already divided the caucus before Van Hollen entered the race.

Many senators have declined to say publicly how they will vote. They have privately deliberated about what message to take from the election, and many are torn. Schumer recruited many of the party's winning candidates and raised money for them, but progressive groups are pushing to remove him. To pitch his reelection, Schumer has been working one-on-one with Democratic senators to form an agenda for 2027.

In private caucus meetings this week, he opened discussion on a broad plan for the party's first 100 days in power.

The plan included health care and tariff legislation, as well as efforts to stop the Iran war. “I’m going to win it,” Schumer told The Associated Press in an interview last week. While Schumer is the favorite to win, Van Hollen's run exposes a rift in the party that opened in spring 2025, when Schumer was put on the defensive after siding with Republicans on a spending vote.

Even as Schumer has redeemed himself within his caucus since then – leading them through a government shutdown last year and orchestrating huge wins in the election – many in the Democratic base are agitating for generational change.

Van Hollen, 67, is not that much younger than Schumer, 75. But he has positioned himself as a new face in the party. He has also said he is considering a presidential run. While most Democratic senators have either said they are supporting Schumer or are undecided, Van Hollen has at least two backers. They are Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who won a competitive election in his state last week, and progressive standard-bearer Bernie Sanders.

El Sayed posted on X Thursday night that their majority will need “bold leadership.”

“I called on Sen. @ChrisVanHollen to lead our caucus as a candidate back in April because he leads with courage and experience,” El-Sayed wrote. “We need both right now. Which is why I’m proud to stand with him in his bid to lead our Senate majority.” Sen. Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, held a press conference Tuesday announcing he would not support Schumer.

He posted Thursday night that the American people “want a Democratic Party that will stand up to powerful special interests, take on the billionaire class and fight for working families. That is why I am supporting Senator Chris Van Hollen to lead Senate Democrats.” Van Hollen has not yet laid out his own agenda, but he has criticized Schumer for his ties to Israel and other special interests.

While Schumer has a long history of support for Israel, he has strongly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his handling of the war in Gaza.

Several senators have said they are backing Schumer, including incoming Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who beat Republican Sen. Jon Husted last week. Beyond the election wins, supporters say the job is difficult, experience is necessary, and Schumer has proven himself with legislative successes when he led the Senate under President Joe Biden.

“Why would you fire the manager when you just won the World Series?” posted Maine Sen. Angus King, another independent who caucuses with Democrats and votes in the leadership election. “Chuck Schumer is one of the principal architects of the most successful election in modern history, and I see no reason to change the leadership that helped make that success possible,” King wrote.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., also posted her support Thursday evening: Cortez Masto said Schumer was key in “securing a historic majority. I will be supporting him as our Democratic leader.” The secret-ballot contest among Democratic senators will take place in early December, and Schumer has said he has the votes to win it.