Van Hollen weighs Senate leadership bid as support remains uncertain

Tinashe Chingarande, Baltimore Sun on Nov 9, 2026

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U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen is leaving open the possibility of challenging Chuck Schumer for Senate Democratic leader, a shift that could put the Maryland senator at the center of a fight over the party’s direction as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress.

Van Hollen, who said last week that he was not seeking the leadership position, is now in “active listening mode” after receiving calls urging him to run, according to a person familiar with his thinking.

The potential challenge comes as some Democrats demand a new approach from Schumer, who remains the favorite to lead the Senate’s newly elected Democratic majority. Van Hollen has argued that the caucus should not automatically return Schumer to the position without first securing commitments about how Democrats intend to use their power.

“I’ve said very clearly that we need to have a discussion in the Democratic caucus,” Van Hollen said Saturday, arguing that no prospective leader should receive a “blank check.”

Whether Van Hollen will enter the race — or can muster enough support to threaten Schumer — remains uncertain. But his willingness to entertain a challenge gives Democrats dissatisfied with the party’s leadership a potential alternative ahead of the caucus’s leadership election.

El-Sayed’s support reflects a political alliance that began months before the election, when Van Hollen broke with Schumer to endorse him in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary.

As The Associated Press reported in June, Schumer backed Rep. Haley Stevens, a more moderate candidate, while Van Hollen joined Sen. Bernie Sanders in supporting El-Sayed, who campaigned against the Democratic establishment and called for an end to U.S. weapons transfers to Israel.

The two have also been outspoken critics of Israeli government actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Van Hollen has called for using American leverage to advance Palestinian rights and self-determination, challenging longstanding U.S. policy toward Israel.

When Van Hollen endorsed El-Sayed in June, the Michigan candidate praised the Maryland senator’s advocacy on Gaza and the West Bank and his willingness to challenge corporate interests and foreign lobbying groups, according to a statement released by El-Sayed’s campaign.

The relationship has now carried into the leadership debate. El-Sayed told CNN on Thursday that Van Hollen would make an “amazing Senate majority leader,” though he acknowledged that the Maryland senator had not decided whether to pursue the position.

Their alliance illustrates some of the divisions within the Democratic Party over economic policy, the influence of wealthy donors and U.S. support for Israel — disagreements now playing a role in the debate over who should lead the Senate’s new Democratic majority.

U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Van Hollen’s Maryland counterpart in the chamber, did not say who she wants in the role.

“The conversation about the direction of our party is a really important discussion for everybody to be a part of, irrespective of who the leader is,” Alsobrooks told The Sun.

Van Hollen’s office did not return requests for comment about whether he’s spoken with Schumer and whether he’s actively seeking support from colleagues.

The Maryland senator has also been considering a possible 2028 presidential campaign, which could complicate questions about his political future. In June, he said he was “kicking the tires” on a White House bid and has since visited early presidential primary states, including New Hampshire.

If elected, Van Hollen would become the first Maryland senator to serve as majority leader since the position was established in 1925. Former Sen. Arthur Gorman led the Senate Democratic caucus, serving from 1890 to 1898 and again from 1903 to 1906.

What a Van Hollen leadership role could mean for Maryland

Political scientists said Van Hollen’s elevation could give him greater influence over the national legislative agenda, though the practical benefits to Maryland residents might be less dramatic.

“I don’t know that you would see a huge monetary difference,” said Flavio Hickel, a politics professor at Washington College, noting that Van Hollen has funnelled millions of dollars to the state, influencing legislation as a senior Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Where I would think you might see a difference is in terms of — the majority leader is often setting the stage for the national party’s agenda, its tactics in negotiating with the White House or with the other party, and their issue priorities.”

However, John Dedie, a politics professor at the Community College of Baltimore County, said Van Hollen would have greater influence over which legislation advances or stalls in the Senate. That could give him leverage in negotiations over federal projects and funding that affect Maryland.

The Senate Democratic caucus is scheduled to begin leadership discussions Tuesday.

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