WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said Thursday that he is running for Senate majority leader, challenging longtime Democratic leader Chuck Schumer as the party prepares to take control of the chamber following its midterm election victories.
Van Hollen, 67, said Democrats need new leadership to deliver the changes voters demanded in the election.
"In this election, the American people called for change. They called for a change from Donald Trump's disastrous policies – but even bigger than that, a change from the status quo that isn't working for working people," Van Hollen said in a statement.
"It's now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership," he added.
The announcement sets up the first contested election for Senate Democratic leader in decades. Senators will choose their leader through a closed-door, secret-ballot vote in early December.
Schumer, 75, remains the favorite and has said he has enough support to retain his position. He pointed to Democrats' election victories, which gave the party at least 55 Senate seats, as evidence of his leadership.
"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 Thursday.
Van Hollen's challenge comes amid divisions over Schumer's leadership, particularly among progressives who have called for a change in direction.
Schumer faced criticism in 2025 after supporting a Republican-backed spending measure. However, he has since helped lead Democrats through a government shutdown and played a major role in recruiting candidates and raising money for the party's successful midterm campaigns.
Van Hollen has secured support from Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, and Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed.
Sanders said Democrats need a leader willing to challenge wealthy special interests and fight for working families.
Other Democrats, including incoming Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, have publicly backed Schumer, citing his experience and role in the party's election victories.
Van Hollen has not yet outlined a detailed leadership agenda, although he has previously criticized Schumer's relationships with Israel and other special interests.
Schumer has been working with Democratic senators on priorities for the new Congress, including health care, tariffs and efforts to end the war with Iran.
The leadership vote in December will determine who guides the Senate's new Democratic majority when the next Congress convenes in January.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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