Senator-elect Chris Van Hollen will head the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2018 cycle, Democrats announced Friday.
The Maryland Democrat now serves in the House, and for two election cycles, from 2007 until 2011, he ran the House campaign arm, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Van Hollen will fill the Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Barbara Mikulski.
Van Hollen will face a tough 2018 election map for Democrats, who will have to defend 23 seats, including five seats vulnerable to Republican takeover. Republicans must defend only 8 seats.
“Chris Van Hollen was our first choice for DSCC chairman because of his talents, his work ethic, and his experience,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the incoming Minority Leader, said. “He has the confidence of our caucus and will do a great job for our candidates running in 2018. The map is tough for Democrats, but I have no doubt that Senator-elect Van Hollen is up to the task.”
Van Hollen said he will also have a seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee where Mikulski served as the top Democrat.
“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,” Van Hollen said in a statement. “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 Senator Mikulski’s mantle on the Senate Appropriations Committee.”
