Van Hollen Tells Democrats to 'Meet This Moment' as Schumer Fight Escalates

Sen. Chris Van Hollen stepped into the spotlight in Denver on Friday, speaking publicly for the first time since he launched a bid to unseat Chuck Schumer as Senate Democratic leader. Addressing the party's 'What's Next' summit, he said Americans 'voted for change.' Then he put the burden on his own caucus: 'We've been given a chance. It's up to us to meet this moment.'

The challenge picked up real weight today when Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley became the first sitting Democratic senator to endorse Van Hollen, following independent Sen. Bernie Sanders' backing. 'Americans are desperate to restore government by and for the people, not the privileged and powerful,' Merkley wrote on X. 'We need leadership that carries that responsibility in their heart and gut.' The leadership race goes to a closed-ballot vote on December 1. Several returning Senate Democrats and most incoming freshmen have refused to publicly commit to Schumer, though he only needs majority support from his caucus to keep the job.

The summit doubled as a runway for 2028 hopefuls. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, fresh off reelection with Democrats controlling his state legislature, delivered a campaign-style speech promising to raise the minimum wage, expand housing and write abortion rights into the state Constitution. He said national Democrats should copy his playbook — but conceded 'no state can usher in a wholesale change that our country needs right now.' He gave no hint about a presidential run. Pete Buttigieg was set to appear Friday evening. Van Hollen, who had previously floated a 2028 bid, ruled one out.

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin welcomed the company. 'Glad to see there's more people getting in the race,' she told reporters, adding she is 'not voting for Sen. Schumer' and will say more next week. She also brushed off a letter from a US attorney in Texas demanding she preserve records tied to potential congressional investigations of the Trump administration — the second time she says she's been threatened over such probes. 'This says more about him than it does about me,' she said.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill traded notes on affordability, the issue they said carried Democrats through the midterms. 'People on the ground are telling me, affordability,' Sherrill recalled, describing how others called that boring. Spanberger touted Virginia's first-of-its-kind consumption tax on data center utility use, scrapped non-disclosure agreements and community benefit plans, calling her state 'ground zero' for the data center backlash. Sherrill's advice to Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico on working with President Donald Trump: 'if Trump wants to work with us, we will lay out the agenda, and he can sign it.' Spanberger called expecting deals with the administration 'foolish,' but urged Democrats to 'pass a bill, pass a bill, pass a bill.'

The wins kept rolling in. CNN projects Democrats will take the Kansas and Alaska governor's races, meaning more than 75% of Americans in the 50 states will have a Democratic governor once the winners are sworn in. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego warned the party not to take its Latino gains for granted — Democrats widened support among that base by 11 percentage points compared with the 2022 midterms. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will move early in the new Congress to reverse Trump-era health care cuts.