Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told a gathering of Democrats in Denver on Nov. 13 that he’s running for Senate majority leader because Americans have lost faith that Washington will improve their lives.
The speech came one day after he announced his challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Earlier in the same program, protesters repeatedly interrupted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is expected to become speaker in January.
Van Hollen spoke on the second day of the What’s Next conference, hosted by the group Majority Democrats. He said voters in last week’s midterm elections rejected President Donald Trump’s policies without fully embracing Democrats.
“While they fired the Trump policies, they have not fully hired us,” he said.
He cited a poll, which he did not name, in which 92 percent of Americans said Washington has the power to make a real difference in their lives, and only 43 percent said it does. He called the gap a trust deficit.
“We must overcome the trust deficit,” Van Hollen said.
He said the Senate should hold floor votes on issues Americans care about regardless of whether Trump would veto the bills, confront the president over the war in Iran and health care, and put newly elected senators “on the front lines.”
He did not mention Schumer by name and said the race is not about any one person.
Schumer has expressed confidence that he will have the votes when Senate Democrats meet for a secret-ballot election in December. “The issue is not me. I’ll be reelected as majority leader,” he said at a press conference.
Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan has endorsed Van Hollen. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who followed Van Hollen on stage, opened his speech by saying, “I’m for Chris Van Hollen.”
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) did not mention the leadership race in her remarks in Denver but said that on election night, “people voted very clearly for a new generation of leadership.”
Earlier in the week, she joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at the Capitol, where Sanders told reporters he would not vote to reelect Schumer as leader.
Slotkin said then that she would not vote for any candidate, Schumer or a challenger, who lacks a concrete plan to govern differently. “I’m a ‘no’ until and unless I see that from anyone,” she said.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) said during a governors’ panel that she does not buy the idea of a fight within the party, saying a focus on lowering costs unites Democrats.
Jeffries was interviewed on stage by Fox News host Jessica Tarlov. Protesters shouted demands for a Green New Deal and asked when it would be time for Medicare for All.
“Your version of accountability is shaking hands with the Trump family,” one shouted.
Another demanded that Jeffries stop any Democrat from voting for a permitting bill now moving through the Senate.
“Remember, Jessica, I’m from Brooklyn. This is light work,” Jeffries said.
He said House Democrats are committed to passing permitting changes and will discuss the bill as a caucus once it comes over from the Senate, adding that some issues still need to be addressed.
Tarlov asked Jeffries about criticism that his leadership is too timid. He pointed to House Democrats’ fights with Republicans over Medicaid cuts, tariffs, the Iran war, and redistricting, and said the incoming majority of 260 Democrats would focus on lowering costs.
Joseph Lord contributed to this report.
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