The calls for change that helped Democrats win control of the Senate on Election Night are now reaching the party’s leadership. Some senators are questioning whether Chuck Schumer of New York should remain their leader.
Schumer plans to seek another term in the role as Democrats prepare to take control of the chamber next year. But progressive members, energized by the party’s strong election results, are pushing for a change at the top.
The caucus is divided. Longtime ally Bernie Sanders of Vermont and newer senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan have both said they will not support Schumer. His critics are looking to Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen as a possible challenger. Van Hollen has said he is considering a presidential run in 2028.
Van Hollen has been speaking with Democratic senators about a potential leadership bid and has criticized Schumer for aligning with the cryptocurrency industry and AIPAC against progressive candidates.
Speaking at the Popular Mandate conference this week, Van Hollen said the recent election showed democracy at work and argued that the Senate should become more democratic. He added that two newly elected senators would not have won their seats if Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had gotten their way.
Asked about the prospect of a challenge, Schumer said he and Van Hollen were friends and spoke often. He said they shared priorities including lowering costs and ending the war with Iran.
Signs of support for Van Hollen appeared outside his office, where people left blue, orange and pink sticky notes on a plaque. Protesters gathered outside Schumer’s office and chanted for him to step down.
The progressive group Indivisible has also called on Democrats to oppose Schumer’s reelection as leader, launching a campaign urging supporters to contact their senators.
Schumer has allies in the caucus, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who brushed off the idea of a Van Hollen challenge. Fetterman questioned Van Hollen’s record and criticized his visit last year to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a constituent who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration. Fetterman referred to Garcia as a man who had abused his wife.
Several senators-elect who rode the Democratic gains into office have also said publicly that they will not back Schumer. Adam Hamilton, Peggy Flanagan, Scott Colom and Abdul El-Sayed were among those who did not support him. Some were not the candidates favored by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in their primary races.
El-Sayed said the leadership contest was still taking shape and that it remained to be seen whether Van Hollen could assemble enough support to defeat Schumer. He called the moment unusual and said Democrats needed to honor the mandate voters had given them.
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, strongly defended Schumer on Tuesday. She praised his vision and credited his early investments in states including Mississippi with helping Democrats win seats.
Gillibrand said she expected the party to show Schumer considerable gratitude for his work, despite the criticism, and said Democrats were on track to gain nine Senate seats—a result she described as unprecedented in her political experience.
