After Midterms, Hollen Calls Colleagues as Schumer Leadership Faces Questions Ahead of December Vote
Van Hollen reaches out
At a Groundwork Action event, Van Hollen told MS NOW’s Ali Vitali he was contacting fellow Democrats and listening to their views on future leadership. He said he had not spoken with every member of the caucus.
The leadership election is expected in early December, but a date has not been announced. Van Hollen described the choice as a decision for the Democratic caucus.
Competing calls for change
Van Hollen said the midterm results reflected opposition to the Washington establishment and raised questions about whether the caucus would respond. He has been playing phone tag with Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017.
At the same time, Bernie Sanders said he would not support Schumer, and Elissa Slotkin said she wanted a concrete plan for change from whoever sought her vote. Schumer, appearing with Kristen Gillibrand, Sheldon Whitehouse and Ruben Gallego, said the caucus was united and that he would be proud to lead it as majority leader.
Disputes over party strategy
Tensions also involve the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, led by Gillibrand, and its role in candidate primaries. Van Hollen argued that the committee should rarely weigh in and said voters should decide.
El-Sayed has backed Van Hollen as a potential leader; Van Hollen was the first senator to endorse him. Jackson, along with Sens.-elect Adam Hamilton and Juliana Stratton, has said he will not support Schumer.
Key points
- Van Hollen says he is contacting Democratic colleagues about who should lead their Senate caucus.
- The leadership election is expected in early December, though no date has been set.
- Sanders says he will not support Schumer, while Schumer says he is confident he will remain leader.
- Van Hollen has criticized the Democratic campaign committee’s role in some primary contests.