Van Hollen Challenges Schumer for Senate Majority Leader: Dec. 1 Vote
Sen. Chris Van Hollen will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader in a Dec. 1 vote, saying Democrats need new leadership after their midterm sweep.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / QQQQQQ
WASHINGTON — Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced late on Thursday that he will challenge Senator Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader, setting up a contested vote on Dec. 1 over who will lead the Democrats' new 55-seat majority when the new Congress convenes in January.
Van Hollen, 67, said voters in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, in which Democrats flipped eight Republican seats and also won a majority in the House of Representatives, had called for "a change from the status quo that isn't working for working people." Schumer, who has led the Senate Democratic caucus since 2017, responded on Thursday that he had the votes to keep the job.
Key Takeaways
- Van Hollen announced on Thursday he will run for Senate majority leader; the closed-ballot election is Dec. 1.
- Democrats flipped eight seats in the Nov. 3 midterms and will hold at least 55 Senate seats.
- Van Hollen says he has "more than 10" commitments and calls the race "very much in flux."
- Schumer says he has the votes to win, backed publicly by Senators Angus King, Ruben Gallego and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Why Van Hollen Is Challenging Schumer for Senate Leader
Van Hollen framed his candidacy as an answer to the midterm result, writing on X that Americans had called on Democrats to "unrig an economy rigged against working people and fueled by political corruption." He promised to use the Senate's "full power" on the war with Iran and the cost of living, and said he would not intervene in primaries, as Schumer has done. His sharpest critique is the party's Senate campaign arm: he said two newly elected senators "would not be there if Schumer and the DSCC had had their way."
Who Is Backing Van Hollen — and Who Is Backing Schumer
El-Sayed of Michigan backed Van Hollen, as did Senator Bernie Sanders, who said "the time is now for change, and I will not be supporting Chuck to be reelected as the Democratic leader." Four more incoming senators — Adam Hamilton, Troy Jackson, Annie Andrews and Peggy Flanagan — have also called for a new leader. Schumer's camp responded: Senator Angus King endorsed him, Senator Ruben Gallego backed him, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand praised him. Schumer insists he has the votes; several returning Democrats and most incoming freshmen have declined to publicly back him.
What Happens Next in the Senate Leadership Race
The race will be settled by a closed ballot on Dec. 1; with at least 55 Democrats, the winner will need 28 votes and will lead the majority in January. The new majority will include Scott Colom of Mississippi, the state's first Black senator since Reconstruction, and Republicans have already reelected John Thune as their leader. Van Hollen has served in the Senate since 2017 after 14 years in the House. Schumer, 75, has led Senate Democrats since 2017 and faces a possible 2028 primary challenge, potentially from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Senate seats flipped by Democrats in the midterms | 8 |
| Democratic seats when the new Congress convenes in January | At least 55 |
| Votes needed to win the leadership election | 28 (majority of the caucus) |
| Leadership election date | Dec. 1, 2026 (closed ballot) |
| Schumer's tenure as Democratic leader | Since 2017 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Senate Democratic leadership election?
The election is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026. Senate Democrats will vote by closed ballot, and the winner needs a majority of the caucus to become majority leader.
How many votes does Chris Van Hollen need to beat Chuck Schumer?
He needs a majority of the Senate Democratic caucus. With at least 55 Democrats in January, the winner will need 28 votes — and Schumer needs the same number to keep the job.
Why is Chris Van Hollen challenging Chuck Schumer for Senate leader?
Van Hollen says the midterms were a call to reject the status quo and argues the caucus needs new leadership. He has also criticised Schumer and the Senate campaign arm for intervening in Democratic primaries, and promises he would not do so.
Who is supporting Chris Van Hollen for Senate majority leader?
Incoming Michigan Senator Abdul El-Sayed backed him first, and Senator Bernie Sanders will not support Schumer. Four more incoming senators have also called for a new leader, while Schumer has been endorsed by Senators Angus King, Ruben Gallego and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The caucus votes by secret ballot on Dec. 1, and the winner takes charge of the 55-seat majority in January.
