Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Sunday ramped up his campaign to dethrone Charles E. Schumer as the top Senate Democrat, saying the race to become the next majority leader is “wide open.”
It is the first time since 1994 that Senate Democrats will face a choice on who should lead them. Most are not ready to publicly pick sides and are welcoming the debate.
“I don’t think this is a binary choice between those two men,” Sen. Cory Booker, New Jersey Democrat, said on Fox News. “I think there’s a bigger discussion to be had about how do we lead so that we can deliver for the American people.”
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The Senate Democratic leadership election is scheduled for Dec. 1. Senators will cast secret ballots, so it may never be fully known who votes for which candidate.
Mr. Van Hollen of Maryland made the Sunday political talk show rounds to promote his bid and pushed back on claims from Mr. Schumer of New York that he has the votes locked down.
“I think there’s a very open lane here,” Mr. Van Hollen said on ABC’s “This Week.”
“The Schumer team has put out a lot of misinformation,” he said. “They’re essentially trying to instill fear in people who may say that they’re going to support me as a new leader.”
Mr. Schumer has led Senate Democrats for nearly a decade, both in the majority and the minority, and has never been challenged for the leadership role until now.
He has not commented publicly on the race since a statement issued Thursday night after Mr. Van Hollen formally announced his bid.
Mr. Schumer said he welcomes “any discussion about the future of our caucus and the important work ahead,” as he sought to shut down the notion of a real competition.
“I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic leader,” he said. “I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.”
As of Sunday afternoon, 13 senators were publicly backing Mr. Schumer and four endorsing Mr. Van Hollen.
“Americans are desperate to restore government by and for the people, not the privileged and powerful. We need leadership that carries that responsibility in their heart and gut,” Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon Democrat, said in endorsing Mr. Van Hollen.
Mr. Schumer’s backers tout his efforts in recruiting, fundraising and campaigning on behalf of candidates who helped the party take back the Senate with a better-than-expected margin.
“He did the work to deliver what will soon be a 56-seat Senate majority against all odds, and I know he has the experience and the fight to continue leading our diverse caucus at this crucial moment,” said Sen. Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat.
The winner needs to earn the support of a majority of Senate Democrats who will serve in the 120th Congress.
That would be at least 29 votes from what is expected to be a 56-member caucus if the Senate race in Alaska is ultimately called for Democrat Mary Peltola, who is challenging Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican.
Mr. Schumer claims to have enough private commitments. Mr. Van Hollen said on “Fox News Sunday” that he has “about 15 and growing.”
The last contested race for the top Senate Democratic leadership spot was in 1994, when Sens. Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Harry Reid of Nevada faced off for the minority leader role. Mr. Daschle narrowly won on a 24-23 vote and did not face another challenge as he served as the top Democrat for a decade before losing his Senate seat to Republican John Thune, the Senate majority leader.
Mr. Schumer and Mr. Van Hollen are both up for reelection in their states in 2028. The outcome of the majority leader race could influence whether they decide to run for another term.
Both candidates are baby boomers who have served in Congress for more than two decades. Mr. Schumer is 75, and Mr. Van Hollen is 67.
“I don’t see this as a generational change in that sense,” Mr. Van Hollen said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“I see this as responding to the call for change from the American people, including Democratic voters around the country, who really want to see a fresh start,” he said. “And that means new leadership.”
Mr. Van Hollen is pitching himself as the most aligned with the “economic populist” movement that helped Democrats secure massive midterm wins, but he has not offered concrete distinctions between himself and Mr. Schumer on such policies.
He personally supports “Medicare for All” and eliminating the filibuster but has said he would discuss with the caucus how far to go in pursuing those changes.
One of the main differences between Mr. Schumer and Mr. Van Hollen is their views on Israel, which has become a major point of division across the Democratic Party.
Mr. Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish Democrat, has continued to support military aid to Israel, while Mr. Van Hollen has led efforts to cut it off.
Sen. John Fetterman, Pennsylvania Democrat, said Saturday on Fox News that he would consider leaving the caucus if Mr. Van Hollen is elected majority leader.
“It would be troubling if my caucus elects someone like Van Hollen that has really made his name being very hostile to Israel,” he said.
Mr. Van Hollen initially said after Election Day that he would not run for Senate leadership because he was considering a 2028 presidential run.
Since launching his bid for majority leader, Mr. Van Hollen has said he is giving up his presidential ambitions because he sees an opportunity to make a difference in the Senate.
In addition to Mr. Merkley, Mr. Van Hollen’s backers include Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont, a registered independent but self-identified democratic socialist, and Sens.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan and Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota.
Mr. Schumer endorsed the primary opponents of Mr. El-Sayed and Ms. Flanagan — Reps. Haley Stevens and Angie Craig in Michigan and Minnesota, respectively.
Mr. Van Hollen said he would not take sides in open Democratic primaries.
Mr. Schumer’s supporters include Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona, Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York, Angus S. King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Mr. Fetterman and Ms. Rosen.
Sen.-elect Sherrod Brown of Ohio, whom Mr. Schumer persuaded to run this cycle after his 2024 loss, is backing the incumbent leader.
• Susan Ferrichio and George Caldwell contributed to this report.
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