Van Hollen challenges Schumer for Senate Democratic leadership
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is launching a bid to replace Sen. Chuck Schumer as Senate Democratic leader, arguing that voters called for change in the midterm elections.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is challenging Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for the top Democratic post in the Senate, arguing that voters sent a clear message for new direction in the midterm elections. Van Hollen announced his bid as the caucus prepares to choose its leadership, setting up a contest that would test the authority of the party's longtime leader.
Van Hollen said that voters «called for change» in the midterms, and he framed his candidacy as a response to both the policies of President Donald Trump and the broader status quo in Washington. He presented himself as a fresh alternative to a leadership structure that has guided Senate Democrats for years. His campaign follows a listening tour he conducted with Senate Democrats before deciding to run.
Van Hollen, 67, has served in Congress for 23 years and has been in the Senate since 2017. Schumer, 75, has been an elected official since 1981 and currently leads the Senate Democratic minority. Van Hollen had previously floated the possibility of a 2028 presidential run, a detail that adds a national dimension to his move within the caucus.
In making his case, Van Hollen criticized Schumer over the party's ties to the cryptocurrency industry and to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC. The criticisms point to ongoing debates within the Democratic Party about campaign finance, industry influence and foreign policy positions. Van Hollen has not detailed a full policy platform in the material available, and his criticisms centered on those specific relationships.
Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has publicly backed Van Hollen's bid, giving the challenger an early endorsement from a newly elected member of the chamber. The endorsement signals that Van Hollen is building support among incoming members as well as those already serving.
Schumer has pushed back on the challenge with confidence. He said Democrats won 55 Senate seats and asserted that he has the votes to keep leading the caucus. He also said he welcomes a discussion about the future of the caucus, suggesting he is not opposed to an open conversation about its direction even as he expects to remain in charge.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has endorsed Schumer and is seeking the caucus's whip position, the second-ranking leadership role responsible for coordinating votes. Schatz said the caucus may discuss the path ahead but must move quickly, a remark that reflects a desire among some members to settle leadership questions without a prolonged fight. The caucus has not yet decided the outcome of its leadership election, and the coming weeks will determine whether Van Hollen's challenge gains enough support to force a contested vote.
Source: nypost.com
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