Sen. Chris Van Hollen says he will challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for majority leader

Résumé détaillé

The Maryland Democrat said he is “answering the call of the American people” as grassroots progressives and some newly elected senators call for change in leadership.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., announced Thursday he will run for Senate majority leader, becoming the first to challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the position.

“In this election, the American people called for change. 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,” Van Hollen said in a statement.

Van Hollen’s move follows attempts by grassroots progressives — and some newly elected Democratic senators — to draft him for the position as some seek an alternative to Schumer.

“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,” he added.

Schumer, who has led the Senate Democratic caucus since 2017, remains favored to retain the position of Democratic leader. Still, it’s likely to be the most serious challenge he has gotten for the job.

Democratic senators will hold a vote in December to choose their leadership for the next Congress. That vote is held behind closed doors and requires a simple majority of the caucus.

Van Hollen said in an interview with MS NOW Thursday night that more than 10 senators have pledged to support him.

“We have a lot of people, but here’s the thing about an election like this: As you say, I’m the underdog,” Van Hollen said. “I told people I was thinking about it, and so now we are opening up the process, right?”

He added, “Now people will have to make a decision, one way or the other, and they have to decide whether they want to vote for change or whether they want to vote for the status quo.”

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