Chris Van Hollen launches bid to lead Democrats in US Senate
Van Hollen’s leadership drive follows Democratic sweeps in elections and challenges veteran leader Schumer.
US Senator Chris Van Hollen has said he is running for Senate majority leader as Democrats gear up to take charge of the US Congress in January following a Democratic landslide in this month’s midterm elections.
Van Hollen said in a post on X late on Thursday that Americans had “called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption”.
“To deliver, we need new leadership,” he said, adding that “this isn’t about any one person – it’s about answering that call”.
“That’s why I’m running,” he said.
Schumer unbowed
Van Hollen has faced mounting calls to enter the race for Senate majority leader amid growing opposition to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer‘s continued tenure after he faced criticism over his handling of the Democratic caucus during the Trump presidency.
Responding to Van Hollen’s decision, Senator Chuck Schumer wrote on X “I welcome any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead”.
“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”, he said.
Schumer said he looked “forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people”.
US Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed from Michigan, who said he would not support Schumer as the majority leader in the Senate, welcomed Van Hollen’s decision to run.
In a post on X, El-Sayed said: “I called on Sen. Chris Van Hollen to lead our caucus as a candidate back in April because he leads with courage and experience.”
“We need both right now. Which is why I’m proud to stand with him in his bid to lead our Senate majority,” El-Sayed said.
![Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer holds a news conference at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee about Democrats taking control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections [File: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/GettyImages-2303041900-1793852578.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
Progressive push
On Thursday, Democratic Party leaders gathered in Denver, Colorado, for a two-day conference on the future of the party, following the sweeping victories in the midterms.
Some progressives at the conference have argued that it is time to change the direction and the leadership of the Democratic Party.
“[Chuck] Schumer has spent nearly 50 years in elected office,” said Washington, DC-based political commentator and strategist James Butler, adding that while he respected the US senator’s service, “it is time for veteran Democrats to make space for younger, more energetic members”.
Israel critic
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has repeatedly challenged Washington’s relationship with Middle Eastern partners.
Van Hollen, the son of a US diplomat, has called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “chronic liar“, previously telling Global News Insight the US-Israel war on Iran “is making America and our allies less safe”.
He also attempted to push forward legislation in Congress that would have required the Trump administration to report on the killing of nine Americans in the occupied West Bank and on Israel’s treatment of Palestinian children in military detention.
This week, Van Hollen and 10 Senate colleagues urged congressional leaders to remove provisions from the annual defence policy bill that would expand weapons development and intelligence sharing with Israel.
