Van Hollen does not rule out challenging Schumer for Senate leader
He said he is still listening to colleagues and that Senate Democrats should hold a full caucus discussion before any decision.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen said on Monday he has not ruled out challenging Chuck Schumer for the top Senate Democratic leadership post, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
Van Hollen told reporters on Capitol Hill that he is still gathering views on a possible run for majority leader.
The Maryland senator said from the start that Democrats should not simply hand the job to Schumer, and he argued that the full caucus should talk before anyone makes a decision.
Asked whether he would run against Schumer, Van Hollen said he was still listening to colleagues rather than committing to a bid.
When asked whether he was open to a challenge, he said he had not shut that option off.
Democrats won control of the Senate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017, said last week that he expects to keep the job and be re-elected as majority leader.
Several incoming Democratic senators have indicated they will not back Schumer, including Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed, who said he will support Van Hollen to lead the caucus.
In the Senate, party leaders are chosen by a vote of their own members in a closed caucus meeting, and the majority leader controls the chamber's floor schedule.
Leadership elections for the next Congress usually take place after the November vote, giving senators time to lobby colleagues before the new session begins in January.
