From Rolling Stone · Tessa Stuart · · 1m 10s
Schumer Faces Senate Leadership Challenge
New senators back Chris Van Hollen over Chuck Schumer's majority leadership bid.
In brief
New senators back Chris Van Hollen over Chuck Schumer's majority leadership bid. Newly elected Democrats support Chris Van Hollen to replace Chuck Schumer as Senate majority leader after Schumer's campaign for leadership fails to secure majority support. Originally reported by Rolling Stone.
Schumer's Leadership Claim
Chuck Schumer claims his fundraising and recruitment efforts created the new Democratic majority.
“I went to him and said, 'You’ve got to run.'”
Colom's Disagreement
Scott Colom says Schumer did not recruit him and will not support Schumer for majority leader.
“The people of Mississippi recruited me… You think I was listening to someone that lives in Brooklyn?”
El-Sayed's Support
Abdul El-Sayed publicly backed Chris Van Hollen after winning Michigan primary.
“I called on Sen Chris Van Hollen to lead our caucus as a candidate back in April because he leads with courage and experience”
Flanagan's Support
Peggy Flanagan announced support for Van Hollen after winning Minnesota primary.
“I believe Chris Van Hollen is the leader and fighter we need to bring about real change”
Other Senators
Four freshman Democrats explicitly will not support Schumer while six others declined to say.
Ezra Levin's View
Ezra Levin says recently elected senators understand public sentiment against Schumer.
“Those senators who just came through an election had to spend a lot of time with the public, and they understand where the public is [on Schumer]”
MoveOn's Stance
MoveOn reports 82 percent of its members want Schumer replaced.
“Our members are tired of politicians content with incrementalism”
Schumer's Past Vote
Schumer joined Republicans to pass funding bill in March 2025.
Van Hollen's Claim
Van Hollen says Democrats won midterms despite party establishment.
“I think if you look at this election, this was not a Washington, D.C.-orchestrated victory”
Schumer's Vote Claim
Schumer claims he has votes to reelect himself as majority leader.
“After Van Hollen announced, the fact that you did not see 29 senators, en masse, in a press release or at a press conference with Chuck Schumer means he doesn’t have the votes yet”
The takeaway
Newly elected Democrats support Chris Van Hollen to replace Chuck Schumer as Senate majority leader after Schumer's campaign for leadership fails to secure majority support.
