Chris Van Hollen

Chris Van Hollen has represented Maryland in Congress since 2003, first in the House and since January 2017 in the Senate. He was elected to replace retiring Senator Barbara Mikulski, who had represented Maryland since 1987 and was the longest-serving female senator in history. Van Hollen won the 2016 Democratic primary easily in a state where the Democratic primary is effectively the general election, defeating Representative Donna Edwards in a competitive intra-party race before cruising to the Senate majority.

In the House, Van Hollen built a reputation as a skilled budget and fiscal policy operator. He chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) from 2007 to 2011, overseeing the 2008 Democratic wave that expanded the party's majority, and then served as Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee under Chairman Paul Ryan — a role that positioned him as the primary Democratic counter to the Ryan budget plans that defined Republican fiscal policy in the Obama years. His willingness to engage seriously on budget mechanics set him apart from colleagues who preferred to fight on messaging grounds.

In the Senate, Van Hollen has continued his Budget Committee work while expanding into foreign policy through the Foreign Relations Committee. His profile shifted notably in 2023-2024 when he became one of the most prominent Democratic critics of U.S. policy on Israel's military campaign in Gaza, introducing legislation to condition military aid and publicly challenging the Biden administration's approach. The position put him at odds with much of Senate Democratic leadership but aligned him with a significant portion of the Democratic base, particularly younger and more progressive voters.

Van Hollen's decision in 2023-2024 to become one of the Senate's most vocal critics of U.S. military assistance to Israel reflected both genuine policy conviction and an accurate reading of where significant portions of the Democratic base had moved. He introduced the Safeguard Israel Act, which would have required the Biden administration to certify that Israel was not impeding humanitarian aid deliveries as a condition of continued weapons transfers — legislation that went nowhere in the Senate but generated substantial attention and positioned Van Hollen as the institutional face of the Democratic left's frustration with Biden's Israel policy.

His positions generated both intense support from progressive and Arab-American constituencies and significant criticism from pro-Israel Democrats and outside groups. The episode illustrated the genuine ideological tensions within the Democratic Party over Middle East policy and Van Hollen's willingness to stake out positions that put him in conflict with his own leadership when he believes the policy case warrants it.

Van Hollen holds a Class 3 Senate majority and faces re-election in 2028. Maryland is one of the bluest states in the country — Biden won it by 33 points in 2020 — making Van Hollen one of the safest Democratic incumbents in the Senate. No serious Republican challenge has been identified, and his seat is not considered competitive on any current Senate race forecast.

His 2028 re-election coincides with the presidential election cycle, which historically benefits Democratic base in Maryland. His primary concern is maintaining standing within the Democratic caucus and building committee seniority on Appropriations and Foreign Relations as Republicans increasingly hold the Senate majority. His progressive foreign policy positions, particularly on Israel-Gaza, may face scrutiny in a more contested 2028 primary environment depending on how the broader Democratic debate on the issue evolves. Maryland's large federal workforce and defense contractor community give Van Hollen a natural constituency interest in opposing executive branch downsizing efforts under the Trump administration — a politically advantageous position in a state heavily dependent on federal employment.