WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said Thursday that he will run for Senate Majority Leader in the next Congress, setting up a challenge to Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer after the party swept to power in the midterm elections.
Van Hollen said in a statement that “the American people called for change” and that is why he is running.
“It’s now on us to meet this moment, and to do that we need new leadership,” Van Hollen said. “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.”
Schumer has said he has the necessary support to win the race. The closed-door, secret-ballot election will be held in early December.
It will be the first contested election for Democratic leader in decades. The question of whether to reelect Schumer has already divided the caucus and many senators will not say publicly how they will vote. They have privately deliberated about what message to take from the election, and Schumer recruited many of the party’s winning candidates and raised money for them.
Schumer has been talking to Democratic senators since the election and forming an agenda for 2027. In private caucus meetings this week, Schumer laid out a broad plan for their first 100 days in power.
“I’m going to win it,” Schumer told The Associated Press in an interview last week.
In a statement after Van Hollen’s announcement, Schumer said he welcomes any discussion about the future of the caucus.
“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together — 55 seats and counting is an amazing result — and I have the votes to continue serving as Democratic Leader,” Schumer said. “I look forward to leading our new Democratic majority and delivering for the American people.”
While Schumer is the favorite to win, Van Hollen’s run exposes a rift in the party that opened in the spring of 2025, when Schumer was put on the defensive since he sided with Republicans on a spending vote.
Even as Schumer has redeemed himself within his caucus since then — leading them through a government shutdown last year and orchestrating huge wins in the election — many in the Democratic base are agitating for generational change.
Van Hollen, 67, is not that much younger than Schumer, 75. But he has positioned himself as a new face in the party. He has also said he is considering a run for president.
While most Democratic senators have either said they are supporting Schumer or are undecided, Van Hollen has at least one backer: Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who won a competitive election in his state last week. He posted on X Thursday night that their majority will need “bold leadership.”
“I called on Sen. @ChrisVanHollen to lead our caucus as a candidate back in April because he leads with courage and experience,” El-Sayed wrote. “We need both right now. Which is why I’m proud to stand with him in his bid to lead our Senate majority.”
Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., also called for new leadership at a press conference Tuesday, though neither endorsed a specific candidate.
Several senators have said they are backing Schumer, including incoming Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who beat Republican Sen. Jon Husted last week.
Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and votes in the leadership election, issued a statement after Van Hollen’s announcement: “Why would you fire the manager when you just won the World Series?”
“Chuck Schumer is one of the principal architects of the most successful election in modern history, and I see no reason to change the leadership that helped make that success possible,” King wrote.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., listens during a news conference after a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during a panel at Crooked Con at the Walter E Washington Convention Center, in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy has quietly fired or removed several top officers in recent months but broke with its usual practice of announcing those changes, drawing pushback from Congress.
Two Democratic lawmakers said Thursday that the Navy failed to inform Congress that it fired the entire leadership team of a nuclear-powered attack submarine last month after an underwater collision. Separately, the sea service in September fired the commander of a destroyer deployed to the Middle East, according to a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive personnel matters.
Dr. Brian Monahan, a Navy rear admiral and attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court, also departed his post during a Navy investigation — with no public announcement or confirmation.
All three are a break from the Navy's longstanding policy to announce major removals of commanders and other highly visible officials. They also follow an increasing level of secrecy over military operations, especially in the Middle East.
“As a result of the Navy’s failure to communicate, what should have been a standard exercise in information sharing has instead raised questions about the Navy’s commitment to transparency and its commitment to a productive working relationship with Congress,” Reps. Joe Courtney of Connecticut and Adam Smith of Washington wrote in a letter to Navy leaders.
The developments could set up a contentious confirmation hearing next week for acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao as he seeks to permanently take over as the top civilian official.
In a letter to Cao and the Navy's top uniformed officer, Adm. Daryl Caudle, Courtney and Smith said they had “deep frustration” over the Navy’s failure to notify the House Armed Services Committee about the firing of the commander, second in command and top enlisted sailor of the USS South Dakota submarine.
The letter says they were fired after the submarine ran into something on the seabed, but the Navy would not offer public comment.
The Navy also on Sept. 27 relieved Cmdr. Caitlin Cunningham, commander of the USS Michael Murphy destroyer, which has been deployed to support operations against Iran, due to a loss of confidence, the defense official said. She had been in the job less than a year.
Typically, the firing of someone like Cunningham would be announced by the Navy within days, but the service did not offer public comment even when asked about it.
On Thursday, Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California also confirmed the departure of Monahan, the attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court, but provided few other details.
The Navy has opened an investigation, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
For nearly 18 years, Monahan held the top job in the Office of the Attending Physician, which is responsible for providing emergency medical assistance to members of Congress and the Supreme Court as well as congressional staff and visitors.
Monahan was sometimes in the news for discussing matters such as Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health and for administering a COVID-19 vaccine to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Restrictions on the military sharing information go beyond the Navy.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, has released few details on recent limited strikes on Iran and refused to comment on or specify damage to bases or equipment, usually citing the need for operational security.
Major satellite imagery providers with U.S. contracts have blocked or delayed public release of images in the region at the request of American officials. As a result, it took months to determine that Iranian drone and missile strikes damaged or destroyed structures on 26 military bases and other sites with U.S. equipment in the region, according to an Associated Press analysis.
Associated Press writers Ben Finley and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
FILE - House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., left, speaks with Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., during the House Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
FILE - A U.S. Navy uniform is pictured, Aug. 13, 2026, in Makati city Metro Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
