‘A long conversation’: Senate Democrats prepare for prolonged fight between Schumer and Van Hollen

DENVER — Senate Democrats are bracing for an intense, messy and distracting fight over whether Chuck Schumer Or Chris Van Hollen should lead them next January.

Less than 24 hours after the battle began Friday, it was already drawing attention in Washington and Denver, where many prominent Democrats — including Van Hollen — gathered to discuss how to wield their new power in January.

“We’re going to have a long conversation about what the caucus should look like,” the senator said. Rubén Gallego (Ariz. Democrat), who supports Schumer, told reporters in Colorado when asked about the leadership election.

The senator Cory Bookermember of the Senate Democratic leadership, said in an interview Friday that “my phone blew up.” And his fellow New Jersey Democrat, Sen. Andy Kimwho, like Booker, doesn’t publicly support New York’s longtime leader or Maryland’s newcomer, offers some advice on the leadership struggle: Keep it clean.