Chris Van Hollen to challenge Schumer for Senate majority leader

Sen. Chris Van Hollen introduces Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan during a campaign event on Aug. 8 in St. Paul, Minnesota. — Sen. Chris Van Hollen introduces Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan during a campaign event on Aug. 8 in St. Paul, Minn. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced Thursday that he'll challenge Chuck Schumer for majority leader.

Why it matters: Van Hollen's bid gives grassroots activists nearly three weeks to pressure Senate Democrats before they cast secret ballots in the Dec. 1 leadership election.

The attempt to oust Schumer (D-N.Y.) underscores that deep divisions are plaguing the Democratic Party despite its overwhelming midterm success.
Van Hollen (D-Md.) has served in the Senate since 2017 and has been in Congress since 2003.
Schumer has been the Senate Democratic leader since 2017 and has served in the Senate since 1999.

Driving the news: "In this election, the American people called for change," Van Hollen said in a statement on Thursday.

"They called for a change from Donald Trump's disastrous policies — but even bigger than that, a change from the status quo that isn't working for working people."

"It's now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership. This is not about any one person — it's about answering the call of the American people. That is why I'm running for Senate Majority Leader."
In a statement of his own, Schumer said: "I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic leader."

Zoom in: Van Hollen acknowledged he's the "underdog" in the race but claimed Thursday on MS NOW he has "more than 10" senators on his side.

"[T]he time is now for change," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Tuesday. He appeared with Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who demanded a plan for change from party leadership.
Progressives have accused Schumer of not fighting hard enough against President Trump and the MAGA agenda.
At least six senator-elects, including Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.), Adam Hamilton (Kansas), Julia Stratton (Ill.), Peggy Flanagan (Minn.), Troy Jackson (Maine) and Annie Andrews (S.C.) have said they won't support Schumer for leader. El-Sayed immediately endorsed Van Hollen upon his entry in the race.

The other side: Schumer has more public backers at this stage than Van Hollen.

That includes Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), Sen.-elect Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Democratic Sens. John Fetterman (Pa.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii) and Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island).

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and has been updated.

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Chris Van Hollen to challenge Schumer for Senate majority leader

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