Bernie Sanders backs Chris Van Hollen's challenge to Schumer for Senate Democratic leader
US Senator Bernie Sanders is backing Senator Chris Van Hollen for the role of Senate Democratic leader, after Van Hollen mounted a challenge against current Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, said in a Thursday post on X: 'The American people voted for change. They want a Democratic Party that will stand up to powerful special interests, take on the billionaire class and fight for working families. That is why I am supporting Senator Chris Van Hollen to lead Senate Democrats.'
Van Hollen, the Democratic senator from Maryland, threw his hat into the ring for the role on Thursday, mounting a challenge against Schumer, the Democrat from New York, who is looking to retain the Senate Democratic leader position to serve as Senate majority leader next year.
In a Thursday post on X, Van Hollen said: 'In this election, Americans called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people & fueled by political corruption. To deliver, we need new leadership. This isn't about any one person – it's about answering that call. That's why I'm running for Senate Majority Leader.'
Schumer asserted in a post that he has the support to retain his leadership position. He wrote that he welcomes any discussion about the future of the caucus and the important work ahead, called 55 seats and counting an amazing result, said he has the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader, and added that he looks forward to leading the new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.
Sanders had said during a Tuesday press conference that he would not support Schumer for reelection as Senate Democratic leader. During an interview on an episode of 'The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart', Sanders said that he would support Van Hollen if he decided to run for the role.
Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated President Donald Trump-backed former Representative Mike Rogers in Michigan's 2026 US Senate contest, is also backing Van Hollen. Sharing Van Hollen's announcement in a Thursday post on X, El-Sayed wrote that the American public spoke clearly last week and rejected Trumpism, that bold leadership is now required, and that he had called on Van Hollen back in April to lead the caucus.
Republican National Committee national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre, in a statement posted on X, criticised Van Hollen and described the leadership contest as chaos and infighting.
