Van Hollen Announces Challenge to Schumer for Senate Majority Leader

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced on Thursday, November 12, that he is running for Senate majority leader, challenging Chuck Schumer for the Democratic leadership. Van Hollen presented his candidacy as a response to voters demanding a change in leadership and an economy that serves working people. Van Hollen said the election required action against political corruption and leadership focused on working families. He said: "That's why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader." Schumer responded that he welcomed discussion about the caucus’s future and said he had the votes to remain its leader. Crediting Democrats’ election performance, Schumer said the party had secured 55 Senate seats and counting. Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed Van Hollen. Sanders argued that the party needed leadership prepared to confront powerful special interests and the billionaire class on behalf of working families. The challenge follows a November 10 initiative by Van Hollen and 11 other senators seeking changes to U.S.-Israel defense cooperation. They urged Senate and House leaders, along with the Armed Services committees’ leaders, to remove three provisions from the final fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The senator’s office identified Sections 1217, 219 and 618 as provisions that would mandate expanded defense cooperation and intelligence sharing with Israel.