Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said on Friday, 13 November 2026, that he would abolish the Senate filibuster if elected Senate Democratic leader, calling the 60-vote threshold "undemocratic" and "not in our Constitution", and in the same appearance ruled out a run for president in 2028.

Key Points

• Van Hollen told reporters at the What's Next conference in Denver that he wants to abolish the Senate filibuster, so legislation can pass with a simple majority of 51 votes.
• He called the 60-vote threshold "undemocratic" and "not in our Constitution", and said reform is vital to pass "democracy protection measures" for voting rights.
• Van Hollen said "I'm not running in 2028", ruling out a presidential bid he had explored since telling the Hill Nation Summit in July that he was considering one.
• He said he discussed the leadership challenge with Senator Chuck Schumer, whom he is seeking to replace as Senate Democratic leader.
• Senate Democrats will choose their leader by secret ballot in early December, needing 28 votes — 29 if Democrats win Alaska — with the winner taking over on 3 January 2027.

What Happened

Van Hollen spoke in Denver, where Democrats gathered after their midterm sweep on 3 November to debate the party's future. The Maryland senator, who announced on Thursday, 12 November, that he would challenge Schumer for Senate majority leader, set out the sharpest policy difference yet between the two men: he would scrap the filibuster entirely, so 51 senators could pass legislation without needing 60 votes. He tied the pledge to voting rights, saying ending the filibuster mattered most for passing "democracy protection measures" stalled at the 60-vote hurdle.

The 2028 announcement was just as blunt. "I'm not running in 2028," Van Hollen said, closing off months of speculation that had followed him since July. By ruling it out, he removed the question hanging over his leadership challenge — whether he was using the race as a platform for a bigger campaign.

Background: The Filibuster Fight and the Leadership Challenge

The filibuster has shaped almost every major Senate fight of recent years. Under current rules, most legislation needs 60 votes to advance, so a minority of 41 senators can block a bill even when a majority supports it. Supporters call it a safeguard; critics say it lets a minority veto the will of voters. The rule was at the centre of a bitter row only two weeks ago, when President Donald Trump demanded on 30 October that the Senate "get rid of the filibuster" to end the government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson warned it would backfire.

Van Hollen's challenge is the first declared bid against Schumer in decades. No Senate Democratic leadership election has been contested since 1994, and Schumer, 75, has led Senate Democrats since 2017. Van Hollen, in the Senate since 2017, announced his challenge on 12 November, saying more than 10 senators back him while acknowledging he is the underdog. Schumer says he has enough support to stay. On Friday, Senators Bernie Sanders and Abdul El-Sayed publicly backed Van Hollen.

Why Van Hollen Wants to Abolish the Filibuster

Van Hollen's case rests on a simple claim: the filibuster is not in the Constitution, and a chamber that requires a supermajority to pass ordinary laws is not democratic. In his telling, the 60-vote threshold has become a veto for the minority, and it falls hardest on the issues Democrats campaigned on — voting rights in particular. The pledge also draws a clear line with Schumer, who has defended the filibuster and never proposed abolishing it.

There is a risk in the position. A filibuster abolished by Democrats would also be gone when Republicans next hold the majority, leaving them free to pass their own agenda with 51 votes. Many senators of both parties have resisted scrapping the rule for exactly that reason. Van Hollen's answer, in effect, is that the risk is worth taking if it lets the majority govern.

Reactions and Quotes

Van Hollen was direct about both announcements. On the filibuster, he called the 60-vote threshold "undemocratic" and "not in our Constitution", and said reform was essential to pass "democracy protection measures" to protect voting rights. On 2028, he was equally plain: "I'm not running in 2028." Schumer has not responded directly to the pledge; his position, stated hours after Van Hollen announced his challenge, is that he has the votes to stay.

Sanders, who endorsed Van Hollen on Friday, framed the race as a verdict on what the party stands for, saying: "The American people voted for change. They want a Democratic Party that will stand up to powerful special interests, take on the billionaire class and fight for working families." El-Sayed said he had urged Van Hollen to run since April "because he leads with courage and experience".

Why It Matters

The leadership election will decide who runs the Senate for the next two years as Democrats take power in both chambers, and Van Hollen's filibuster pledge makes it a choice about how that power will be used. Van Hollen announced his challenge on 12 November, the first declared bid against Schumer in decades, and his Denver remarks turn it from a contest of personalities into a contest of ideas: a majority that can pass its programme with 51 votes, or one that still needs 60. The same rule will also govern the Iran war funding fight, where a short-term bill expires on 11 December.

What Happens Next

Senate Democrats vote by secret ballot in early December, senators-elect included, and both camps will count support until then. Van Hollen needs 28 votes — 29 if Democrats win Alaska — and says he has more than 10 senators behind him, while Schumer has said he has the votes to stay on as Democratic leader. The next signal is Senator Elissa Slotkin, who has demanded a plan for the first 100 days; if she endorses Van Hollen, the race becomes a genuine contest. Either way, the winner takes over on 3 January 2027, after the Sanders and El-Sayed endorsements that followed Van Hollen's announcement showed organised support behind the challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Chris Van Hollen say about the filibuster?
He wants to abolish the Senate filibuster, calling the 60-vote threshold "undemocratic" and "not in our Constitution", and arguing bills should pass with a simple majority of 51.

Is Van Hollen running for president in 2028?
No. He said "I'm not running in 2028" in Denver on Friday, 13 November 2026, ending speculation that began when he said in July that he was considering a bid.

When will Senate Democrats choose their leader?
By secret ballot in early December 2026, with senators-elect taking part, before the new Congress begins on 3 January 2027.

How many votes does Van Hollen need to win?
He needs 28 votes — 29 if Democrats win Alaska. He says more than 10 senators back him, while acknowledging he is the underdog against Schumer.

What is the Senate filibuster?
It requires 60 votes to advance most legislation, letting a minority of 41 senators block a bill. Van Hollen wants to scrap it so bills can pass with 51.