Van Hollen challenges Schumer for Senate majority leader

Summarised from 11 outlets · 22 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 01:57 · Archive

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced he will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader after the party's midterm election victory.

Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator from Maryland, announced on Thursday that he will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader when Democrats assume control of the Senate in January following their midterm election victories.

Van Hollen, 67, said in a statement that Americans voted for change and that Democrats need new leadership to deliver it. "In this election, Americans called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people and fuelled by political corruption," Van Hollen said. "To deliver, we need new leadership. This isn't about any one person – it's about answering that call."

Schumer, 75, responded within minutes of Van Hollen's announcement. The New York Democrat said he welcomes discussion about the party's future and added that he is proud of what Democrats have accomplished together, securing 55 seats in the chamber. "I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader," Schumer said.

The contest marks the first contested election for Democratic Senate leader in decades. The secret-ballot election will be held behind closed doors in early December, with the winner assuming the role when Democrats take control of Congress on 4 January.

Van Hollen has already attracted support from progressive figures within the party. Senator Bernie Sanders said he is backing Van Hollen, stating that Americans voted for change and want a Democratic Party that will stand up to special interests and fight for working families. Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed also posted support for Van Hollen, characterising him as someone willing to take risks when it matters.

The challenge reflects ideological divisions within the Democratic Party. Van Hollen has drawn attention from progressives in recent years, vocally supporting restrictions on weapons shipments to Israel and criticising the Biden administration's approach to the Gaza war. He has also visited El Salvador to meet with a constituent held in prison there. Van Hollen said he is an underdog in the race but that old leadership cannot earn voters' trust.

Schumer has led Democrats in the Senate since 2017, serving as both majority and minority leader. He was first elected to the Senate in 1999. While some Democratic senators have privately deliberated about the choice, many have not said publicly how they will vote. Schumer recruited many of the party's winning candidates in the midterms and raised money for them, but progressive groups have pushed for new leadership.

How it is being reported

• Progressive challenge to Democratic Senate chief Schumer opens fight for bolder agendaThe challenge escalates a fight inside the Democratic Party over how bold it should be in forcing an end to the Iran war and taking on corporate power.The Japan Times · 14 Nov, 00:50
• What the choice between Chuck Schumer and Chris Van Hollen for Senate leader is all about | Bernie SandersThis is not a personality contest. This is a debate about the future of the Democratic party The election for Democratic Senate leader between Chuck Schumer and Chris Van Hollen must be understood for what it is. This is not a personality contest. This is a debate about the future of the Democratic party. It is a debate about whether the Democratic party remains a top-down party dominated by billionaire campaign contributors, inside-the-beltway consultants and 30-second TV ads, or whether we can transform it into a grassroots party of, by and for the working families of our country. Continue…The Guardian · 13 Nov, 21:28
• With his challenge to Schumer, Van Hollen forces a debate over Democrats' mandateDemocrats say they have a mandate to deliver change, but as the party gets ready to retake the majority in both the House and Senate, there are divides over who should lead it.NPR · 13 Nov, 21:06
• Schumer's leadership rival reveals major Senate rule change he'd pursue if electedChuck Schumer faces a rare contested Senate leadership race as Chris Van Hollen pushes to abolish the filibuster and shake up Democratic strategy.Fox News · 13 Nov, 20:15
• As Van Hollen wages a challenge, Senate Democrats are torn on whom to elect as their leaderMaryland senator’s bid against Chuck Schumer for leadership could decide direction of the Democratic party US politics live – latest updates Ever since Donald Trump returned to the White House, Democratic officeholders and voters alike have been divided over whether their leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer , is up to the task of taking the president on. That debate intensified on Thursday, when the Maryland senator Chris Van Hollen announced he will challenge Schumer for the post of Democratic Senate leader, which will become one of the most powerful jobs in Washington when the party takes…Guardian World · 13 Nov, 20:08
• Schumer's former ally mounts leadership challenge as Democrats face rare internal power struggleSenate Democrats face their first contested leadership race since 1994 as Chris Van Hollen challenges Chuck Schumer with Bernie Sanders' backing.Fox News · 13 Nov, 18:23
• Van Hollen challenges Schumer for Senate majority leaderSen. Chris Van Hollen says he plans to challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader. CBS News' Nikole Killion reports.CBS News · 13 Nov, 17:47
• Chuck Schumer’s challenger for party control underscores Democrats’ ideological riftSenator Chris Van Hollen’s policy credentials allowed his quick rise to roles usually reserved for the more tenured US politics live – latest updates US senator Chris Van Hollen’s challenge to Chuck Schumer ’s leadership of Senate Democrats presents an ideological and biographical contrast to the party as it takes control of Congress in two months. Though only about eight years younger than Schumer, Van Hollen is seen as a more progressive senator who has drawn attention for his opposition to the Trump administration ’s abusive immigration practices – visiting his constituent Kilmar Ábrego…Guardian World · 13 Nov, 16:36
• Democratic Senate leader Schumer set to face leadership challengeMaryland Senator Van Hollen says "new leadership" is needed for Democrats following the party's recent midterm successes.BBC World · 13 Nov, 15:48
• How Sen. Chris Van Hollen plans to flex Democratic power on the foreign aid frontThe Maryland Democrat, who's the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee, just announced he's going to run for Majority Leader. He spoke to NPR about his foreign aid vision.NPR · 13 Nov, 15:46
• Van Hollen says he'll challenge Schumer for Senate majority leaderDemocratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he'll challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader. CBS News' Fin Gómez has more.CBS News · 13 Nov, 14:31
• Van Hollen takes aim at Schumer as Democrats face first big test after midterms – US politics liveSenator Van Hollen says midterm results show Americans want change in Washington, and Democrats need new leadership to deliver that Good morning, and welcome to the US politics live blog. Barely a week after sweeping to a stunning midterm victory, Democrats have found themselves facing an altogether different battle, one within their own ranks. We saw a huge outburst of democracy on election day – red states, blue states, purple states – and it wasn’t only a rejection of Donald Trump and his corruption, his wars and his cruelty, it was also about a call for a larger change, to take on a…The Guardian · 13 Nov, 11:09
• Sen. Bernie Sanders supports Chris Van Hollen's bid to challenge Schumer for Senate Democratic leader postSen. Bernie Sanders is backing Sen. Chris Van Hollen for the role of Senate Democratic leader, as Van Hollen challenges Sen. Chuck Schumer for the role.Fox News · 13 Nov, 11:06
• Democratic civil war erupts as Van Hollen challenges Chuck SchumerVan Hollen said in a statement that “the American people called for change” and that is why he is runningIndependent World · 13 Nov, 09:18
• Chuck Schumer faces challenge for Senate leadership from rival DemocratChris Van Hollen to run to be majority leader in upper house after sweeping party victory in midterm electionsFinancial Times · 13 Nov, 04:24
• US senator Chris Van Hollen to challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leaderChris Van Hollen, who has support from some of the more vocal progressives within the Democratic party, is the first to openly challenge long-term Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer's bid.Euronews · 13 Nov, 04:16
• Chris Van Hollen says he will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leaderVan Hollen, a progressive from Maryland, said voters sent a clear message in the midterm elections — that they want "change from the status quo."NPR · 13 Nov, 03:52
• Lefty Dem Chris Van Hollen challenging Schumer for Senate Majority leader, arguing voters ‘called for change’Van Hollen’s challenge comes after he said he was considering a bid and after Schumer has said he has the necessary support to win.New York Post · 13 Nov, 03:17
• Van Hollen challenges Schumer for Senate leadership after Democratic election sweepChuck Schumer faces a formal challenge from Chris Van Hollen for Senate Democratic leader after Van Hollen accused him of siding with AIPAC.Fox News · 13 Nov, 02:45
• Chris Van Hollen to run for US Senate majority leaderVan Hollen's entry into the race follows Democratic sweeps in elections and challenges veteran leader Schumer.Al Jazeera · 13 Nov, 02:42
• Chris Van Hollen to challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leaderMaryland Democrat challenges party leader after midterms sweep, saying: ‘The American people called for change’ Chris Van Hollen, the Democratic senator of Maryland, announced on Thursday that he is challenging Chuck Schumer for the role of Senate majority leader when Democrats regain the chamber’s majority in January. “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 posted on social media.…Guardian World · 13 Nov, 02:30
• Van Hollen will challenge Schumer for Senate majority leaderDemocratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced Thursday that he will challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader.CBS News · 13 Nov, 02:14

In this story: Chris Van Hollen · Chuck Schumer · Bernie Sanders · Abdul El-Sayed · Maryland · United States Senate

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log