He may look like just another old white man, but check his political positions/history, he’s not typical establishment.
Sen #ChrisVanHollen says he will challenge Sen #ChuckSchumer for majority leader
The Maryland #Democrat said he is “answering the call of the American people” as grassroots #progressives & some newly elected senators call for #change in #leadership.
#USpol #Congress #Senate
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-chris-van-hollen-says-will-challenge-sen-chuck-schumer-majority-le-rcna609100
“In this election, the American people called for change. 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,” #ChrisVanHollen said in a statement.
Van Hollen’s move follows attempts by grassroots #progressives — & some newly elected #Democratic senators — to draft him for the position as some seek an alternative to #ChuckSchumer.
“It’s now on us to meet this moment, & to do that we need new leadership. 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,” #ChrisVanHollen added.
#ChuckSchumer, who has led the #Senate Democratic caucus since 2017, remains favored to retain the position of Democratic leader. Still, it’s likely to be the most serious challenge he has gotten for the job.
Dem senators will hold a vote in December to choose their leadership for the next #Congress. That vote is held behind closed doors & requires a simple majority of the caucus.
#ChrisVanHollen plans to run on having the new Dem majority use every available tool to end the #Iran #war, starting with the upcoming government #funding measure to avoid a December #shutdown, acc/to his team. He’s also proposing to reverse #Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” get #money out of #politics & tackle #corruption.
Folks should realize that, unlike in the House speakership, the Senate majority leadership is more or less symbolic and ministerial.
Whether it's Schumer or VanHollen in the chair, it's all still up to the rest of the Senate to conduct day to day business.
They do often mislead the public so as to act as scapegoat to insulate senators from accountability, but only if we play along.
