Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen has stated that he will no longer seek the presidential nomination for 2028, but will instead run against Chuck Schumer for the top position among Democrats in the upper house of Congress in the new session.
Van Hollen made the announcement at the "What's Next" conference in Denver, a gathering where dozens of Democratic representatives, strategists and political insiders met to discuss the party's future following major midterm election victories. "I believe the size and scale of these majorities provide an opportunity for the United States Senate to answer the call alongside the American people," Van Hollen said.
At the same time, Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin said she is considering a presidential candidacy for 2028 "seriously" but has not yet "made any decisions." "What I consistently feel and still truly feel is that I want to be part of the next generation of leaders who do things differently and understand whom they serve," Slotkin said, adding: "Whether that is me or someone else, I simply want to be part of that next generation."
Slotkin did not directly endorse Van Hollen's candidacy for Senate majority leader in the next session, but confirmed she would not support Senator Chuck Schumer. She noted that she had had productive conversations with Van Hollen and was pleased that another legislator had entered the race. "We need a new generation of leadership that thinks differently about how to exercise oversight and power, and you know, I did not support Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House," Slotkin stated. She added that she had spoken publicly about these matters long before most of her colleagues and that she persistently advocates for change within the Democratic caucus.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also drew attention in Denver, where he said he is in "constant conversation" with the President on all matters concerning his city. Mamdani acknowledged Trump's roots as a New Yorker. "Despite all the political disagreements we two have, we share a love for this city," he said. "That does not mean every request is fulfilled, it does not mean every attempt is successful. What it means is that there is always a greater chance than the day before that the life of a working New Yorker and their needs will be addressed as a result of what we discuss and what we can do."
Mamdani smiled when asked how often he speaks with Trump and said he would keep the answers regarding the "rhythm" of their conversations to himself. "What I will say is that the conversation remains constant," he added.
Mamdani also officially announced a 90-day delay he secured for stores and convenience shops across the country that accept SNAP, giving them time to implement new rules from the Department of Agriculture. The delay begins today and is the result of conversations Mamdani held with Donald Trump and Brooke Rollins, the Secretary of Agriculture. Mamdani said the new guidelines had thrown the lives of "more than one million New Yorkers" and "tens of millions across America" into "chaos."
"People who are already struggling with a lack of affordable places to buy household necessities, rising prices at the checkout and food deserts in all five boroughs were now afraid that the few places where they could shop would no longer be able to accept their benefits," Mamdani said. He added that small retailers risked closing if they could not accept SNAP benefits due to the short deadline to adjust inventory and meet new requirements. "For so many of our fellow Americans, whether they are shopping in a store in Michigan or a convenience shop in Missouri, it would be difficult to use benefits and feed the ones they love," he said.
In Colorado, Democrat Eileen Laubacher won the election for the United States House of Representatives in the state's fourth congressional district, thereby unseating Republican Representative Lauren Boebert, a fervent supporter of the MAGA movement and ally of Donald Trump. According to current data, Laubacher leads by more than 3,300 votes with 98 per cent of ballots counted. Boebert is attempting to hold on to a reliably Republican district that Trump won in 2024 with a margin of 18 percentage points. If Laubacher wins, she will be the first Democrat to take the seat since 2009.
