Sen. Chris Van. Hollen said Sunday he can defeat Sen. Charles E. Schumer in the race to become the chamber’s next majority leader.
The Maryland Democrat made the talk show rounds on Sunday to promote his bid to defeat Mr. Schumer, who is the minority leader.
Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat, says he’ll have the votes to lead his party in the Senate in January, when Democrats take back the gavel.
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Mr. Van Hollen cast doubt on Mr. Schumer’s claim. He told “Fox News Sunday” that reports predicting he can’t win are “a bunch of nonsense,” and said the contest to become the next majority leader “is a wide open race.”
Senate Democrats are expected to have a 55- or 56-seat majority, one of the biggest advantages in years. Mr. Schumer, 75, has been a party leader since 2011 and has been the Senate’s top Democrat since 2021.
Some Democrats from the far-left wing of the party are clamoring to oust Mr. Schumer and are backing Mr. Van Hollen, in part because of his strong support of ending U.S. aid to Israel.
The Senate Democratic leadership election is slated for Dec. 1 and will take place behind closed doors via secret ballot.
Mr. Van Hollen or Mr. Schumer must win the majority of the caucus, either 28 or 29 votes, depending on the outcome of the Alaska Senate race.
On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Mr. Van Hollen questioned the accuracy of Mr. Schumer’s whip list of senators who he claims have committed to vote for him.
“I have a path to get there, no doubt about it,” Mr. Van Hollen said. “I can tell you that a number of those people on that list have actually committed to voting for me and the others are very open to the idea of change.”
Mr. Van Hollen rejected a secret plan under discussion to hold the leadership election before Congress adjourns for the Thanksgiving recess. Speeding up the vote would curtail the momentum building behind Mr. Van Hollen’s bid.
“I see it as a sign of weakness that they want to bring the date forward rather than have this debate,” Mr. Van Hollen said.
Mr. Van Hollen said he believes the Nov. 3 election results that gave Democrats an overwhelming victory in the House and Senate races, indicate that “voters around the country really want to see a fresh start, and that means new leadership.”
Senate Democrats who back Mr. Schumer have privately criticized Mr. Van Hollen for dividing the Democratic caucus after their huge victory.
Mr. Van Hollen has picked up public support from several far-left senators and newly elected lawmakers, including Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent, and Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan.
Mr. Schumer has the backing of Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona; Angela Alsobroooks of Maryland; Angus King, Maine independent; and Sen.-elect Sherrod Brown of Ohio.
Mr. Schumer said in a press conference held after Election Day that he has the votes to win the race.
On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Sen.-elect Scott Colom of Mississippi, who narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, said he hasn’t decided whether to back Mr. Schumer or Mr. Van Hollen.
“I’m in listening mode,” Mr. Colom said. Van. Hollen said he can defeat Sen. Chuck Schumer in the race to become the next majority leader.
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