‘Testing the waters’: Sen. Chris Van Hollen weighing run for president

By Susan Ferrechio - The Washington Times - Sunday, August 23, 2026

Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland on Sunday added his name to the list of hopefuls for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

Mr. Van Hollen told NBC’s “Meet the Press” he isn’t satisfied with the growing list of possible candidates from his party and has traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire, two early voting primary states.

“Democrats need to be very clear — not just what we’re against but what we’re for — and I very much want to be part of that debate. And I am kicking the tires, testing the waters,” Mr. Van Hollen said.

His announcement follows murmurs that he may challenge Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York for the top Democratic leadership post if his party retakes the upper chamber.

Mr. Schumer has been increasingly under fire from members of his party. Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who is endorsed by Mr. Van Hollen, said, if elected, he won’t support Mr. Schumer to serve as party leader and instead backs Mr. Van Hollen.

“I’ve been very clear that my focus is not on majority leader. It’s on what Democrats stand for going into 2028,” Mr. Van Hollen said when asked if he would challenge Mr. Schumer. “I think there’s a great deal of churning within the Democratic Party, and I support that. I think we need this healthy debate because I don’t think Democrats have put forward a clear alternative to the Trump administration.”

Polls measuring support for potential 2028 candidates largely show former Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and far-left House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Mr. Schumer last week dodged a question about whether he’d campaign for Mr. El-Sayed whose race could determine who controls the majority after the 2028 election. Mr. El-Sayed, a physician, is running neck-and-neck in the polls against Republican Mike Rogers, according to the RealClear Politics polling average.

“I have one mission: win the Senate,” Mr. Schumer told reporters. “We are on the path to doing it. The bottom line is that we will win Michigan. El-Sayed has brought in new energy and new talent into the Democratic Party, but also in Michigan itself.”

President Trump “has bungled the Michigan economy,” Mr. Schumer said.