Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) signaled Monday that he remains open to a bid for Senate majority leader, telling reporters he is “in listening mode” as Democrats prepare to take control of the chamber next year.
“What I’ve said from the very beginning is, we shouldn’t have a coronation. We should have a caucus discussion about what we’re going to do with the power and responsibilities that have been invested in us,” Van Hollen said, responding to growing calls from some incoming Democratic senators for a leadership change.
The Maryland Democrat, who has been floated as a potential alternative to current Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), stressed that no commitments should be made before that internal debate. “I’m in listening mode and haven’t shut the door,” he added.
Van Hollen’s comments come as a faction of the party’s new Senate class pushes for a shift at the top. Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.) has been the most vocal, reiterating his endorsement of Van Hollen during a Thursday appearance on CNN. “I’ve been very clear: I think he’d be an amazing Senate majority leader,” El-Sayed said. “Of course, that’s a choice he has to make about whether or not he wants to pursue that.”
Another incoming Democrat, Sen.-elect Adam Hamilton (Kan.), echoed that sentiment on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” describing Schumer as “polarizing” in his home state. “I mean no disrespect for Chuck Schumer,” Hamilton said. “And I’ve told him that as well. But I think, at least where I live in Kansas, he is kind of a polarizing figure.”
The internal jockeying comes as Democrats prepare to wield their new majority on multiple fronts, including the tariff policy and potential impeachment threats. The leadership question is likely to dominate caucus discussions in the coming weeks, with some members urging a delay in the vote to allow for broader input, similar to delays in the GOP leadership race.
Van Hollen, a former House member and ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee, has not formally declared a challenge. But his refusal to rule out a run keeps the pressure on Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017. A leadership vote is expected when the new Congress convenes in January.
Political analysts note that Van Hollen’s appeal lies in his progressive credentials and his ability to work across the caucus. If he were to mount a bid, it would set up a rare intraparty fight for the top Senate post, a scenario that could reshape the chamber’s agenda and its relationship with the White House.
For now, Van Hollen is letting the conversation develop. “Until then, I think that nobody should be making any commitments,” he said, leaving the door wide open for a possible run.
