Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen Floats 2028 White House Run, Says Party Needs New Direction

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., says he is “kicking the tires” on a potential 2028 presidential bid, arguing that the Democratic Party has failed to offer working Americans a clear alternative to the Trump administration's agenda.

In an interview Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press, Van Hollen told moderator Kristen Welker that Democrats need to move beyond simply opposing President Donald Trump and start articulating a positive economic vision.

“We need to be against the status quo, and that's why I've been kicking the tires as I look at 2028 because I don't think the Democratic Party has answered the call about how we're going to make sure we have an economy that really does work for everybody, especially working people,” Van Hollen said.

Van Hollen sidesteps question on challenging Schumer for Senate leader

When pressed on whether he would challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the party's top Senate post if Democrats retake the chamber this fall, Van Hollen deflected.

“My focus is not on majority leader, it's on what Democrats stand for going into 2028,” he said.

The Maryland senator, who served in the House for more than a decade before joining the Senate in 2017, has been one of the most vocal Democratic critics of the Trump administration. He previously floated the possibility of a 2028 run to NOTUS and at the Hill Nation Summit.

Van Hollen confirms he has visited Iowa and New Hampshire

Asked directly whether his comments meant he was seriously considering a campaign, Van Hollen noted that he has traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire, the traditional first nominating states. In 2028, New Hampshire will remain an early contest, but Iowa was removed from the early window by the Democratic National Committee.

“I think there's a great deal of churning within the Democratic party, and I support that,” he said. “As I said, I think we need this healthy debate because I don't think Democrats have put forward a clear alternative to the Trump administration.”

He added: “Democrats need to be very clear not just what we're against, but what we're for. I very much want to be part of that debate, and I am kicking the tires, testing the waters.”

Who else is considering a 2028 Democratic run?

Van Hollen joins a growing list of Democrats openly considering a presidential bid, with no clear frontrunner emerging:

• Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif. said he would be “lying” if he denied considering a run.
• Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky. said he may “take a look” at the race.
• Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he is “more inclined than not” to run.
• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. has not “ruled out the possibility.”
• Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. has not ruled out a bid.
• Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. said he would “have to look at” the possibility.
• Former Vice President Kamala Harris said she is “thinking about” running again.

Van Hollen defends Democratic socialists' place in party

Van Hollen was also asked whether Democratic socialists belong in the party. He said they do, as part of the debate.

“I'm not afraid to debate,” he said. “I think that those in the Democratic Party who are afraid of a healthy debate are missing the point because voters, including Democratic voters, they don't want to simply return to the pre-Trump status quo.”

His comments come after multiple Democratic socialists won primaries this cycle, including Angie Nixon, who won Florida's Democratic Senate primary last week. Nixon is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, whose platform includes replacing the president and Supreme Court with bodies subordinate to Congress and abolishing the Senate.

Asked if those platform points went too far, Van Hollen said, “of course.”

“Yes, of course they do for me, and I think a lot of the folks who are running, regardless of where they are on the Democratic spectrum, have rejected those ideas,” he said.

What does this mean for Iowa voters?

While Iowa lost its first-in-the-nation caucus status for 2024, the state remains a key battleground in Republican presidential politics. Van Hollen's acknowledgment that he has visited Iowa suggests Democrats still see value in courting Hawkeye State voters, even if the caucuses no longer kick off the nominating calendar.

For Iowa Republicans, Van Hollen's candidacy would represent another opportunity to contrast the Democratic Party's leftward drift with the Trump administration's record on the economy, energy independence, and agriculture. The Maryland senator's embrace of democratic socialists within his party could become a central line of attack in any general election campaign.