January 1, Democrat Infighting Explodes as Van Hollen Challenges Schumer for Leadership

Wyatt’s Take

• Chuck Schumer’s grip on the Senate Democrats is cracking as Chris Van Hollen tries to knock him out.
• Van Hollen claims he has the votes and calls Schumer’s tactics a sign of weakness.
• Rank-and-file Democrats smell blood in the water after years of failed leadership.

Senator Chris Van Hollen told CNN’s Dana Bash he has a clear path to beating Chuck Schumer for Senate Minority Leader. He says several senators listed as Schumer supporters have already pledged to back him instead.

“I have a path to get there, no doubt about it,” Van Hollen said. “I saw that Senator Schumer’s team put out a list just the other day of people they said who are voting for Senator Schumer. 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,” he added. “There’s a hunger for change within the Senate Democratic Caucus. There are also reports that are credible that the Schumer team is trying to change the date of the election to try to move it up from December 1st.”

Van Hollen says the rush to hold the vote early is “a sign of weakness.” He wants a full debate so every senator can hear each candidate’s vision for the future.

“How many votes do you have now?” Bash asked him during Sunday’s broadcast of State of the Union.

Van Hollen’s bid is backed by Senator-elect Abdul El Sayed of Michigan. But Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania warned that Van Hollen taking over would push the party even further left.

Wyatt Matters

Heartland families want leaders who put American workers and secure borders first, not another round of coastal Democrats fighting over who can move the party further from real people’s concerns.