Van Hollen takes aim at Schumer as Democrats face first big test after midterms – US politics live

Senator Van Hollen says midterm results show Americans want change in Washington, and Democrats need new leadership to deliver that Good morning, and welcome to the US politics live blog. Barely a week after sweeping to a stunning midterm victory, Democrats have found themselves

Senator Van Hollen says midterm results show Americans want change in Washington, and Democrats need new leadership to deliver that Good morning, and welcome to the US politics live blog. Barely a week after sweeping to a stunning midterm victory, Democrats have found themselves facing an altogether different battle, one within their own ranks. We saw a huge outburst of democracy on election day – red states, blue states, purple states – and it wasn’t only a rejection of Donald Trump and his corruption, his wars and his cruelty, it was also about a call for a larger change, to take on a broken economic system that’s rigged in favour of the very wealthy against working people, and it’s fuelled by a corrupt political system.

The call was to reject the status quo and to reject business as usual, and to do that, I think we need new leadership.” 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 [Van Hollen] to lead our caucus as a candidate back in April because he leads with courage and experience. We need both right now.” Continue reading...