# Van Hollen challenges Schumer for Senate leader > Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen will contest Chuck Schumer's bid to lead Senate Democrats, the first contested race for the post in three decades. - Title: Van Hollen challenges Schumer for Senate leader · TIME - Summary: Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen will contest Chuck Schumer's bid to lead Senate Democrats, the first contested race for the post in three decades. - Keywords: chris van hollen, chuck schumer, senate majority leader, democratic leadership, senate democrats, progressive democrats, maryland, new york, bernie sanders, aipac, 2028 election, TIME - Source: TIME — https://time.com/article/2026/11/13/chris-van-hollen-senate-majority-leader-chuck-schumer-progressive-democrats - Author: Miranda Jeyaretnam - Published: 2026-11-13T09:55:00+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: chris van hollen, chuck schumer, senate majority leader, democratic leadership, senate democrats, progressive democrats, maryland, new york, bernie sanders, aipac, 2028 election, news ## Van Hollen announces his challenge Chris Van Hollen, Democratic senator for Maryland, announced Thursday he will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate Majority Leader, the first contested race in decades. ## Van Hollen's case for change Van Hollen said his challenge was not about any one individual but about answering the call of the American people for change from the status quo. > It's now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership. ## Schumer asserts he has the votes Schumer, a New York senator who has led the Democratic caucus since two thousand seventeen, said he has enough votes to win and is proud of accomplishments. > 55 seats and counting is an amazing result, and I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader. ## When the vote will happen Senate Democrats will hold a closed-door vote on December first to choose their Senate Majority Leader when the new Congress convenes on January fourth. ## Last contested race was nineteen ninety-four The last time the election for Senate Democratic leader was contested was in nineteen ninety-four, when Tom Daschle of South Dakota defeated Chris Dodd of Connecticut. ## Van Hollen's progressive record Van Hollen was elected to the Senate in two thousand sixteen and emerged as a prominent progressive voice through criticism of U.S. military support for Israel. ## Van Hollen's stance on AIPAC Van Hollen has criticized Schumer for alignment with pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC and said the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee should not accept money from AIPAC. ## Sanders rules out backing Schumer Bernie Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, ruled out backing Schumer earlier this week, saying he has not been leading in the right direction. > Do I think Chuck has been leading in that direction? No. ## Sanders endorses Van Hollen Sanders endorsed Van Hollen on Thursday, saying voters want a Democratic Party that will stand up to powerful special interests and fight for working families. ## Other senators withhold support Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said she would not back Schumer and called for anyone seeking to lead to put out a plan for their first one hundred days. > You can't lead people if you can't lay out where you're going. ## Incoming senators call for new leadership Several incoming Democratic senators, including Troy Jackson of Maine and Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota, called for new leadership in the Senate. ## Progressive groups oppose Schumer Progressive groups MoveOn, Indivisible, and the Working Families Party opposed Schumer and said they would support primary challenges against Democratic senators who do not back Van Hollen. ## Schumer retains substantial support Fourteen senators and senators-elect have publicly backed Schumer, crediting his fundraising and candidate recruitment with helping deliver midterm victories that flipped at least eight Republican seats. > When the manager takes you to the World Series, you give him another contract. ## Van Hollen claims he has support Van Hollen told MS Now that he had consulted many senators and believed he had more than ten of the fifty-five Democratic senators and senators-elect's votes. > Am I the underdog? Yes. ## Van Hollen argues for democracy Van Hollen argued that Schumer's support could shift now that colleagues had another candidate to consider, saying democracy in the Senate Democratic Caucus is a good thing. > It is one thing to have someone's support when you're the only choice. ## Key takeaway Chris Van Hollen announced a challenge to Chuck Schumer for Senate Majority Leader, the first contested race since nineteen ninety-four, amid progressive calls for new party leadership.