Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced he would run for the top leadership position in the new Congress, making him the first and only Democrat to directly challenge Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has led his caucus for nearly a decade.
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Van Hollen made his bid official on Thursday night after fielding calls from colleagues over the last week. The Maryland Democrat quickly secured the support of some party members who have been urging new leadership in the next Congress, raising the stakes for the internal election when it’s held next month.
“In this election, Americans called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption,” Van Hollen said in a statement. “To deliver, we need new leadership. This isn’t about any one person — it’s about answering that call. That’s why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader.”
Van Hollen’s bid comes after prominent party figures such as independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan came out against Schumer. Sanders was among those who immediately endorsed Van Hollen’s candidacy.
Schumer, for his part, appears unconcerned by the challenge — and expressed confidence he’ll remain in power. The top Democrat is a formidable candidate after leading his party to massive wins in the midterms, winning a net pickup of at least eight Senate seats with one more state left to be called.
“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,” Schumer said in a post on social media. “I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.”
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A handful of party members have already pointed to Democrats’ midterm victories as a reason to reelect Schumer.
“When the manager takes you to the World Series, you give them another contract,” Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., told reporters this week. “Chuck and I have had our differences, but at the end of the day, it’s time to unify.”
It’s not yet clear how many Democratic senators will vote for Van Hollen over Schumer, as some party members have kept quiet about who they plan to support. The election will be conducted via a secret ballot, raising suspicions among some in Democratic circles that Schumer will be reelected without much struggle — suggesting the calls for new leadership serve mostly to appease the base.
“I think a lot of it is people understanding that it is very popular to be saying, ‘We need new leadership, it’s time for change,’” a source familiar with the dynamics of the Senate Democratic caucus, granted anonymity to talk candidly, told the Deseret News. “I think there will be people who say, ‘I’m not for Schumer,’ and then will go in there and vote for Schumer. And that’s always been the case with these kinds of things.”
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