Schumer's former ally mounts leadership challenge as Democrats face rare internal power struggle

Senate Democrats are getting an opportunity they haven’t had in decades: a different option for who their leader could be.Even before the blue wave crashed over Republicans and Democrats emerged with a commanding majority in the Senate, the rumblings for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to step aside were there.Now, he’s got a challenger in Sen.Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a familiar face in Washington, D.C., who framed his bid against Schumer as one answering the call for change voters demanded.

It’ll be the first time that a Senate Democratic leadership race will be contested since 1994.DEMOCRATS TURN ON SCHUMER AFTER HISTORIC ELECTION WINS AS POTENTIAL CHALLENGER EMERGESSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer arrives at the U.S.Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on Nov.

9, 2026.Newly elected members of the 120th Congress arrive for the first day of new member orientation after Democrats flipped both chambers in the midterm elections.

(Getty Images)Van Hollen’s emergence, at 67, as the lone challenger to Schumer, 75, comes after lawmakers and candidates demanded a change in Democratic leadership before the election.That call has only intensified in the week after Democrats won the midterms, with Van Hollen interpreting the seismic political shift as an indictment of President Donald Trump that can only be acted on if Senate Democrats go in a new direction.The challenge is already dividing Senate Democrats.In an interview with MSNOW, Van Hollen didn’t offer a sharp policy contrast to Schumer, and cast doubt on Democrats’ ability to pass key progressive desires, like Medicare-for-all."But it should be very clear: While, you know, voters have rejected the Trump policies, they’ve not yet hired Democrats — they’ve given us a chance, we have to earn their trust," Van Hollen said.

"My view is that you can’t earn that trust with old leadership.You need to move on to new leadership."Van Hollen acknowledged that he was an "underdog," but re...