Chuck Schumer’s position as the Senate’s leading Democrat is facing renewed scrutiny, with some members of the party looking to replace him.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a 67-year-old Maryland Democrat, has emerged as a possible alternative. He has criticized Schumer over his ties to cryptocurrency firms and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, among other concerns.
Progressive Democrats have challenged Schumer’s leadership for some time. Though he helped the party gain at least seven Senate seats in the midterms, some colleagues see him as too cautious and disconnected from voters.
Sen. Bernie Sanders has called for Schumer to step aside. Several incoming Democratic senators, including Maine’s Troy Jackson and Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed, have also said they plan to support someone else. El-Sayed has backed Van Hollen.
Jackson said he had already told Schumer he would support another candidate and had not changed his mind. Van Hollen, meanwhile, argued that the election results showed Democrats needed to reconsider business as usual, adding that the Senate caucus itself needed more democracy.
Sanders said he had known Schumer for more than 30 years and respected how hard he worked. Still, he believes the party needs a change in leadership and will not support Schumer’s reelection. Sanders also said Schumer had failed to take Democrats in a new, bold direction. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has likewise called for a new voice.
Democrats are expected to choose their next Senate leader in a secret ballot in early December. Schumer plans to seek the majority-leader position and has said he is confident he will win.
After Sanders and Slotkin publicly voiced their opposition, Schumer said the caucus was united around lowering costs, tackling corruption and chaos, and ending the war. He said he would be proud to lead the group.
