Van Hollen Launches Challenge to Schumer for Senate Democratic Leadership

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen has launched a challenge to Chuck Schumer for the top Democratic leadership post in the Senate, according to The Guardian's live coverage.

Van Hollen announced his decision in an interview with MS Now. He argued that the midterm election results showed Americans wanted fundamental change, and that Democrats needed new leadership to deliver it.

The contest comes after Democrats won control of the Senate, winning at least 55 seats in the midterm elections. The leadership vote is scheduled for next month. Winning it requires a majority of the caucus, the group of Democratic senators, which is about 28 or 29 members.

Van Hollen told MS Now he had the support of "more than 10" Democratic senators for his bid. Bernie Sanders has publicly declared that he will not support Schumer, and he has endorsed Van Hollen for the post. Abdul El-Sayed, the incoming Democratic senator from Michigan, has also openly backed Van Hollen to lead the Senate majority.

Schumer has led Senate Democrats since January 2017. He responded to the challenge by welcoming discussion about the future of the caucus, and said he has the votes to be re-elected as leader.