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Van Hollen says 15 senators back his bid to replace Schumer
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Van Hollen says his bid to replace Chuck Schumer as Senate Democratic leader is gaining support, intensifying a contest over the direction of the newly empowered caucus. He said 15 colleagues now back him, up from more than 10, and argued that the race remains open despite Schumer’s claim to have enough commitments to retain the role.
The secret-ballot election is scheduled for 1 December, and the winner needs a simple majority of the Democratic caucus, which will have at least 55 seats including allied independents. Van Hollen, 67, has challenged Schumer, 75, over funding for the Iran war and his involvement in Democratic primaries; Schumer’s allies cite candidates he helped recruit who won seats Democrats flipped or are on track to flip.
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In short
- Van Hollen says 15 colleagues now support his leadership bid.
- Schumer says he has enough commitments to retain the role.
- Democrats are due to hold a secret ballot on 1 December.
How this story developed
- 29 minutes ago Van Hollen’s backing had risen from more than 10 colleagues to 15, while Schumer’s allies maintained that he had enough commitments to retain the leadership post.
- 36 minutes ago Chris Van Hollen said 15 colleagues now backed his challenge to Chuck Schumer for Senate Democratic leader, as the contest exposed divisions over the caucus’s direction ahead of a secret ballot on 1 December.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Van Hollen’s challenge can be seen as a legitimate effort to give a newly enlarged caucus a fresh direction and stronger accountability. His criticism of Schumer over war funding and involvement in primaries may resonate with colleagues who want leadership to reflect their priorities, while the secret ballot allows senators to judge the contest independently.
The case against
Schumer’s supporters can argue that leadership should be judged by its effectiveness in winning seats and advancing the caucus’s aims, and that candidates he helped recruit contributed to Democratic gains. They may also favour continuity and experience, particularly as the caucus takes on greater responsibility, while still weighing Van Hollen’s criticisms before voting.
Explained simply
The Senate is one of the two chambers of the US Congress, where senators serve states and vote on laws and government spending. Each party in the Senate chooses a leader to organise its members, set priorities and negotiate with the other party.
Chuck Schumer has led Senate Democrats since 2017. Chris Van Hollen is a Democratic senator from Maryland; a leadership contest between them reflects different views within the party about its priorities and how it should approach political disagreements.
The Democratic caucus includes Democratic senators and independents who work with them. Its leader can influence which proposals the party backs and how it presents its positions, though senators still cast their own votes.
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Originally published by New York Times as “Chris Van Hollen Says His Majority Leader Challenge to Chuck Schumer Is Gaining Support”.