Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen has said he will challenge New York Senator Chuck Schumer for the position of Senate majority leader in the new Congress. In a social media post, Van Hollen said the party needs "new leadership" following the midterm elections, in which Democrats won enough seats to take control of the chamber.

In the post, Van Hollen wrote, "This isn't about any one person – it's about answering that call." The New York Times reports that Van Hollen has emerged as a favourite of Democrats seeking an alternative to Schumer, who says he has the votes to win.S1S2

The story is still developing, and further details on the leadership contest have not yet been reported.S1