Van Hollen says he will challenge Schumer for Senate Majority Leader: 'People called for change'

Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced Thursday that he will challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for next year's majority leader, stating that the "American people called for change." 

The announcement comes after several incoming senators have urged Van Hollen to seek the position as an alternative to the party's current leaders, including Michigan Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed. 

Van Hollen previously said he was considering the challenge but that he was still listening to what the party and his constituents wanted.

“In this election, the American people called for change," Van Hollen said in a statement obtained by NBC News. "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," he continued. "This is not about any one person — it’s about answering the call of the American people. That is why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader."

The move comes as Schumer has led the Democrats in the upper chamber for years, including in the majority and minority. But some progressives have expressed discontent with his leadership despite the party's landslide wins in the midterms. 

No other candidate has stepped forward to challenge Schumer.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.