Chris Van Hollen says he will challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leader

Van Hollen, a progressive from Maryland, said voters sent a clear message in the midterm elections — that they want "change from the status quo."

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4811x3289+0+0/resize/4811x3289!/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fdd%2F332d58b44e4e9507fa1047877405%2Fgettyimages-2288943476.jpg' alt='Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., seen above on Aug. 8, 2026 in St. Paul, Minn., has announced he will challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for Senate Majority Leader.'/><p>Van Hollen, a progressive from Maryland, said voters sent a clear message in the midterm elections — that they want "change from the status quo."<br></p><p>(Image credit: Stephen Maturen)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-6039357' />