'A change from status quo': Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen announces bid for Senate Majority Leader

'A change from status quo': Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen announces bid for Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, has entered the race for Senate Democratic leader, challenging incumbent Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, highlighting growing divisions within the party ahead of a secret ballot election in December. Advertisement Updated: 5:59 AM EST Nov 13, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Amy Lu Washington Correspondent Matt Brown 'A change from status quo': Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen announces bid for Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, has entered the race for Senate Democratic leader, challenging incumbent Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, highlighting growing divisions within the party ahead of a secret ballot election in December. Updated: 5:59 AM EST Nov 13, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Amy Lu Washington Correspondent Matt Brown Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, announced his candidacy for Senate Majority Leader following Democrats' sweeping win in the midterms. His bid challenges incumbent Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, who says he already has the votes to win re-election. Still, the race highlights growing divisions among Democrats that could impact the future direction of the party. Advertisement Schumer, currently the Senate Minority Leader, responded to Van Hollen’s announcement expressing confidence in his re-election bid. "I welcome any discussion about the future of the caucus," Schumer said in a statement Thursday . "I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader. I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.” But while some progressives have publicly called for Schumer to step aside, many Democrats have declined to say how they will vote. Van Hollen has stepped in to claim voters are seeking change from President Donald Trump’s policies and Democrats' leadership status quo. "They want to turn the page on Trump's corruption and his wars and his cruelty and his complete disregard for their economic pain but that wasn't an embrace of Democrats," Van Hollen said. "We've been given an opportunity and we need to make sure that we use it in a way that meets the needs of the country." Van Hollen's announcement marks the first contested election for Senate Democratic leader in decades. The closed-door, secret ballot vote is expected to take place in early December. Watch more on the Democratic leadership race in the Senate: Make WLWT a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks VIDEO: Frankie Muniz says he's recovering after crash at Daytona International Speedway Newly released Ring camera shows Brooklyn building collapsing WATCH: Master carver engraves crystals from last year's New Year's Eve ball Anthony Clark, a comedian and actor who starred on 'Yes, Dear,' dies