Chris Van Hollen to challenge Schumer for Senate majority leader

Sen.

Chris Van Hollen announced Thursday that he'll challenge Chuck Schumer for majority leader.Why it matters: Van Hollen's bid gives grassroots activists nearly three weeks to pressure Senate Democrats before they cast secret ballots in the Dec.

1 leadership election.The attempt to oust Schumer (D-N.Y.) underscores that deep divisions are plaguing the Democratic Party despite its overwhelming midterm success.Van Hollen (D-Md.) has served in the Senate since 2017 and has been in Congress since 2003.Schumer has been the Senate Democratic leader since 2017 and has served in the Senate since 1999.Driving the news: "In this election, the American people called for change," Van Hollen said in a statement on Thursday."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.

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