Chris Van Hollen

Christopher Van Hollen Jr., born on January 10, 1959, is a prominent American attorney and politician who has made significant contributions to Maryland's political landscape. Currently serving as the senior United States senator from Maryland, a position he has held since 2017, Van Hollen has a rich history in public service, having previously represented Maryland's 8th congressional district from 2003 to 2017 and served as a Maryland state senator from 1995 to 2003.

In 2007, Van Hollen took on the role of chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), where he played a crucial part in defending vulnerable Democrats and facilitating a successful wave election for the party in 2008. His leadership was recognized when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi created a new position, Assistant to the Speaker, allowing him to participate in all leadership meetings. He was later elected as the ranking member on the Budget Committee in November 2010 and appointed to the bipartisan Committee on Deficit Reduction.

Van Hollen's journey to the Senate began in 2016 when he ran to succeed retiring Senator Barbara Mikulski. He triumphed in the Democratic primary against U.S. Representative Donna Edwards and secured the general election with a commanding sixty-one percent of the vote against Republican nominee Kathy Szeliga. His popularity continued in 2022, when he was reelected with nearly sixty-six percent of the vote, defeating Republican Chris Chaffee.

As a senator, Van Hollen chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2017 to 2019 and is set to become the dean of Maryland's congressional delegation in 2027, following the retirement of longtime Representative Steny Hoyer. His commitment to public service and leadership within the Democratic Party has solidified his reputation as a key figure in Maryland's political arena.