Schumer's leadership rival reveals major Senate rule change he'd pursue if elected

DENVER — A mile above much of the country, and leagues away from Washington, D.C., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is facing a progressive rebellion that threatens his grip on power.The challenge is being led by Sen.Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who has served under Schumer since 2017.

And he is willing to go further than Schumer ever has on one issue: terminating the filibuster.Years ago, Schumer tried and failed to narrowly change the Senate’s rule to pass a sweeping voting rights package.Republicans have toyed with it over the last two years, but never pulled the trigger.SCHUMER'S FORMER ALLY MOUNTS LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE AS DEMOCRATS FACE RARE INTERNAL POWER STRUGGLEVan Hollen said, "We need democracy in the United States Senate, and that means allowing, ultimately, a majority of senators to answer the call of the American people."So, that means 51 votes.

So, my personal view has been all along that the filibuster is an anti-democratic … provision.It's not in our Constitution," Van Hollen added. "It was put in there by senators to enhance their power over the power of the people."Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who has led Senate Democrats since 2017, says he has the votes to remain leader and guide the party’s incoming majority.

(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)Van Hollen announced his challenge against Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats for nearly a decade, Thursday night after a listening campaign with Senate Democrats.It presents a rare opportunity for Senate Democrats since there hasn’t been a contested Democratic leadership election since 1994.Just a week earlier, Van Hollen was mulling higher office, but now he’s giving up a potential bid for the White House in 2028 to do one thing: beat Schumer and grapple with President Donald Trump."I’m no longer pursuing that," Van Hollen told reporters at the What’s Next conference in Denver, where Democratic leaders, strategists and activists gathered to...