Van Hollen to Vie With Schumer for Senate Democratic Leadership

WHO:

Fox News Politics - Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen challenged Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York for Senate Democratic leadership after the election results.

ABC News - Van Hollen said the Democratic Party needs “new leadership” in a social media post.

CBS News Politics - Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced that he would challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader.

CNN - Schumer has led the Senate Democratic caucus since 2017. Van Hollen, 67, has served in Congress for more than two decades, including in the House for 14 years and in the Senate since 2017.

CNN - Van Hollen held congressional leadership roles including House Democratic assistant to the leader and chair of both chambers’ campaign arms. Schumer, 75, has faced criticism from liberals over his opposition to President Trump and support for the U.S.-Israeli relationship.

CNN - Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and Michigan Sen. Abdul El-Sayed expressed support for Van Hollen’s leadership bid. Incoming Democratic Sens. Adam Hamilton, Troy Jackson, Annie Andrews and Peggy Flanagan called for new leadership.

CNN - Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand praised Schumer’s election-cycle work. Incoming Mississippi Sen. Scott Colom said he did not know his leadership options.

NBC News - Van Hollen became the first senator to challenge Schumer for the position. Grassroots progressives and some newly elected Democratic senators had sought to draft him.

WHAT:

Fox News Politics - Van Hollen accused Schumer of siding with AIPAC.

CNN - Van Hollen said Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) intervened too much in Senate Democratic primaries, saying they “sided with the crypto industry and AIPAC against these candidates.” He argued the DSCC should intervene only in “very, very rare exceptions.”

CNN - Van Hollen criticized Israel’s government, accusing it of “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza, calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “wanted war criminal,” and denouncing AIPAC’s influence.

CNN - Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been mistakenly deported there.

NBC News - Van Hollen said his agenda included using available tools to end the Iran war, beginning with an upcoming government-funding measure; reversing President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”; reducing money in politics; and addressing corruption.

CNN - Democrats had flipped eight seats and were set to enter January with at least 55 senators. Schumer said “55 seats and counting” was an “amazing result” and said he had the votes to remain Democratic leader.

WHERE:

CNN - Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet Abrego Garcia. He made remarks at a post-election Democratic conference in Washington.

WHEN:

CNN - Senate Democrats’ closed-ballot leadership election is scheduled for December 1.

NBC News - Democratic senators will vote in December to choose leadership for the next Congress.

WHY:

CNN - Van Hollen described his candidacy as answering voters’ call for change after the Democrats’ election victory, calling it a response to a “huge outburst of democracy.”

NBC News - Van Hollen said voters called for change from President Trump’s policies and “the status quo that isn’t working for working people.”

HOW:

CNN - The leadership election is conducted by secret ballot; Schumer needs majority support from the caucus to retain the position.

NBC News - The leadership vote is held behind closed doors and requires a simple majority of the Democratic caucus.

(UPDATED November 13, 2026 03:07 UTC)

Senator Chris Van Hollen is challenging Chuck Schumer for Senate Democratic leadership. He says Democrats need new leadership, criticizing Schumer’s primary interventions and AIPAC ties. Schumer says he has the votes; Democrats will choose their leader December 1.