On November 12, 2026, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced he would run against Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for the position of majority leader. This was the first contested election for Democratic floor leader in the U.S. Senate since 1994.
Schumer was elected to the Senate in 1998. He earlier served in the U.S. House and the New York Assembly. He was first elected Democratic leader in November 2016. In a November 12 statement, Schumer said, "I welcome any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together – 55 seats and counting is an amazing result – and I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader. I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people."
Van Hollen was elected to the Senate in 2016. He earlier served in the U.S. House, the Maryland Senate, and the Maryland House. In a November 12 statement, Van Hollen said, "In this election, the American people called for change. They called for a change from Donald Trump’s disastrous policies – but even bigger than that, a change from the status quo that isn’t working for working people. It’s now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership. This is not about any one person – it’s about answering the call of the American people. That is why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader."
The Associated Press' Mary Clare Jalonick wrote, "While Schumer is the favorite to win, Van Hollen's run exposes a rift in the party that opened in the spring of 2025, when Schumer was put on the defensive after he sided with Republicans on a spending vote. Even as Schumer has redeemed himself within his caucus since then — leading them through a government shutdown last year and orchestrating huge wins in the election — many in the Democratic base are agitating for generational change."
See the following pages for more on the election for Senate majority leader and on contested elections for House leadership positions: