Chris Van Hollen open to challenging Schumer for Senate majority leader

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a progressive favorite to run for majority leader, is keeping the door open to challenging Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for the position, just days after ruling out the possibility.“The Senator has received an outpouring of calls on running for majority leader and is now in active listening mode,” said a person familiar with the senator’s thinking.The statement marks a reversal from just after the election, when Van Hollen told a local Fox affiliate that he is focused on whether he can run a viable campaign for president in 2028 and that “I’ve made clear that I’m not looking to be the next Democratic leader.” On Monday, the source cautioned that “the door is not shut” on a challenge, reflecting the influence of progressive Democrats who believe a contested election may be necessary to steer the caucus to the left next year, when Democrats will have comfortable majorities in both the House and Senate.Schumer is in a stronger position to stay on as leader after the shocking rout of Republicans last Tuesday, an outcome that flipped at least seven seats, but that election also elected progressive voices who are critical of the minority leader and have promised to oppose him if sent to the Senate.Among them, Sen.-elect Abdul el Sayed (D-MI) said this week that he would support Van Hollen if he runs in internal leadership elections.Current members have also expressed reservations that the 75-year-old Schumer’s pragmatic leadership style does not fit the political moment and that a younger generation should take over.Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who also has toyed with the idea of a presidential run, said at a convention over the weekend that talks of a leadership challenge are “happening rapidly” and that she, too, is open to running against Schumer.As part of that conversation, Van Hollen has said that Schumer must lay out his commitments before caucus members agree to give their vote.Senate Democratic leadership elections are expected to take place in early December and will be done by secret ballot, unlike the vote for speaker of the House, which is done by verbal roll call.JON OSSOFF WINS 2028 STRAW POLL AT PROGRESSIVE CONFERENCEIn terms of a run for president, Van Hollen said at the same convention that he would make a decision sometime in early January.“I trust the American people, and this election was a reason for us to believe in our democracy, and that’s why I’m kicking the tires,” Van Hollen said.Hailey Bullis contributed to this report.