Chuck Schumer facing challenge for U.S. Senate leadership

Fresh off a massive electoral victory, the Senate Democrats are facing their first major test of unity. Maryland's Chris Van Hollen says he will challenge Chuck Schumer for the Senate majority leadership. This will be the first contested election for the Democratic leader in decades. Van Hollen says the midterm results show a clear appetite for change, but what that change looks like is already driving a wedge in the party. The CBC's Willie Lowry has the details from Washington. Chuck Schumer has been the top Democrat in the Senate for almost 10 years. He's about to turn 76, and some in the party are questioning whether it's time for change. There is, of course, a whole new generation of Democratic senators who are getting ready to start their terms. Their average age is about 53. For the Senate, that is pretty young. On top of that, Schumer is a moderate, and the party is in this limbo right now, trying to decide whether or not it wants to fully embrace its more progressive elements or govern from the middle. This is, of course, all in an effort to try and win over Republicans come 2028. Chris Van Hollen is considered more progressive than Schumer. On social media, he said, quote, Quote, in this election, Americans called on us to... unrig an economy rigged against working people and fueled by political corruption. To deliver, we need new leadership. This isn't about any one person. It's about answering that call. He's already won the endorsement of independent Bernie Sanders and Abdul El-Sayed, the incoming senator from Michigan. On social media, El-Sayed said, quote, the American public spoke clearly last week. They rejected Trumpism, but we have yet to earn our mandate. That will require bold leadership. I called on Senator Chris Van Hollen to lead our caucus as a candidate back in April because he leads with courage and experience. For his part, Van Hollen says he's already got at least 10 out of the 55 votes, but he acknowledges he is very much the underdog. And just like there are grumblings to replace Schumer as the top Democrat in the Senate, there are also calls to replace Hakeem Jeffries, who as of now is poised to become the first black Speaker of the House. Jeffries is only 56, but his tenure as House Minority Leader, he of course replaced Nancy Pelosi back in 2023, has not been especially of note. He's considered a middle-of-the-road Democrat and Some in the progressive wings of the party are not happy with his leadership, including on policy issues around Israel, but also on issues like Medicare for All, which is something that he does not support. He also, like Schumer, represents New York, and some in the party believe having more geographical diversity is important. So far, though, no challenger has stepped up. Democrats are expected to vote on leadership in the coming weeks. Willie Lowry, CBC News, Washington.