Chris Van Hollen launches bid to lead Democrats in US Senate
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has launched a bid for Senate majority leader, posting on X that Americans have "called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption" and that "to deliver, we need new leadership". His run comes amid growing opposition to Chuck Schumer's tenure ahead of Democrats taking charge of Congress in January after their November 2026 midterm landslide; Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed is the first to back him, saying Van Hollen "leads with courage and experience", while commentator James Butler says "it is time for veteran Democrats to make space for younger, more energetic members".
