WASHINGTON (7News) — Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Friday he’s running for Senate Democratic Majority leader because the party needs a new approach after voters called for change.
“I’m the underdog in this race,” Van Hollen said, pointing to Sen. Chuck Schumer’s advantages as the current leader. “The majority leader has lots of powers of incumbency to try to make deals or agreements with people. That’s actually part of the problem with the process.”
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Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said the party shouldn’t return to “business as usual” after its election victories. He said Friday that he wants to champion policies that help working people, including a livable minimum wage and affordable health care.
He also said Democrats need to hold artificial intelligence companies accountable and make sure consumers don’t pay for data center construction.
“We all agree we need to reverse the damage done by the Trump administration and their so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’” Van Hollen said. “It was beautiful for billionaires. It sucked for everybody else. But that just gets us back to the pre-Trump situation. We need to fix a broken health care system. It has become a money-making system. It puts profits over patients.”
He said he discussed his leadership challenge with Schumer and views the contest as a chance to give Senate Democrats a choice. Van Hollen also said Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan announced her support for him Friday.
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Van Hollen said Democrats should move ahead with legislation their candidates campaigned on, whether or not President Donald Trump supports it. If Trump signs bills that help working people, Van Hollen said, he would welcome that. If Trump vetoes them, he said, voters would see where the president stands.
“We need to answer the call of the American people,” Van Hollen said.