Van Hollen to chair Senate Dems’ campaign arm
Newly elected Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) will serve as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for the 2018 election cycle — in which Democrats will defend 25 Senate seats.
{mosads}It’s unusual for a freshman senator to chair a party fundraising committee during his first two years in office. But Van Hollen has a strong resumé as former chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democrats’ fundraising arm, in the 2008 and 2010 election cycles.
“Chris Van Hollen was our first choice for DSCC chairman because of his talents, his work ethic, and his experience. He has the confidence of our caucus and will do a great job for our candidates running in 2018,” Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), the incoming Senate Democratic leader, said in a statement.
Van Hollen was noncommittal about the job when reporters asked him about it earlier this week.
Schumer left out the DSCC chairmanship when he announced the rest of his leadership team Wednesday.
Promising Van Hollen a seat on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) chaired, may have tipped the balance.
Democrats will seek to protect vulnerable incumbents in several Republican-leaning states in 2018, including Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia.
“The map is tough for Democrats,” Schumer acknowledged.
Van Hollen in a statement praised Schumer as “an outstanding leader” and offered a preview of the Senate Democrats’ campaign message for next year.
“Democrats in the Senate are the last line of defense between President-elect Trump and Washington Republicans, and so many of the values and priorities that Americans hold dear,” he said.
Van Hollen cited his new seat on the Appropriations panel as a win for his constituents.
“I look forward to getting to work right away to defend American values, as well as fighting for my home state of Maryland by taking up Sen. Mikulski’s mantle on the Senate Appropriations Committee,” he said.
Van Hollen owes Senate leadership after retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) gave him a crucial endorsement during his tough primary race against Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.).
Reid’s endorsement angered Mikulski, the state’s senior senator, who likes Edwards and wanted the seat to go to a woman, according to a report last year by The Atlantic.
Mikulski later endorsed Van Hollen in the general election and campaigned for him.
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