With Democrats standing ready for huge majorities in both chambers, Maryland leaders — from the halls of Congress to city councils — are now working to see how this shift will affect state residents across and armed with goals for the future.
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D), who is vying to lead the Senate in the upcoming session, viewed the election as a mandate for change across America, including within Democratic leadership.
“Let’s face it, there was also a clearly an anti-Washington establishment tone to this election,” he said, “and so that is why I am now actively listening to people who are looking for that kind of change, and I am in the process right now of calling my colleagues because ultimately the question is whether the caucus is hearing the same calls for change or not.”
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) pledges to continue supporting his constituents through legislative action to improve their lives.
“I will continue to work hard every day to help people live out the American dream, one where good, affordable housing, great jobs and healthy schools, food and environment are the standard for people in Maryland’s 4th, across the state and throughout the country,” he said.
While she’s optimistic about what’s ahead, Seat Pleasant Councilmember Shireka McCarthy encourages her city’s residents to remain civically active and alert.
“I want my constituents to know that the fight is not over, and our responsibility to remain engaged does not end when the polls close. We must continue asking questions, participating in the process, advocating for our communities, and holding our elected leaders accountable at every level of government,” McCarthy told The Informer. “Democracy works best when the people remain involved, and I encourage everyone to stay informed, stay vocal, and never underestimate the power of their voice.”
Ivey: ‘I Will Work on Accountability and Affordability‘
As he prepares to enter his fifth year in the House, Ivey pledged to get work on affordability and accountability, particularly with Democrats securing huge majorities in both chambers of Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
“We have to work on bringing down prices, from gas to groceries to health care costs and electricity rates. The War in Iran is affecting oil and gas. The tariffs President Trump has put in place are costing farmers, consumers and small businesses an exorbitant amount,” he told The Informer. “Corruption needs to stop. I want affordability and accountability simultaneously!”
Ivey expressed admiration to his constituents for returning him to Capitol Hill in one of the most heavily Democratic jurisdictions in the nation, matched in the partisan voting index only by Philadelphia, Atlanta, Oakland, and Seattle.
Now, the former Prince George’s State’s Attorney is looking toward the future and collaborating with new House members, such as Rep.-elect Adrian Boafo, who will be representing Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, replacing longtime Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), one of the longest serving congressmen in American history.
“Maryland has always had a good partnership among its federal members. I believe Rep.-elect Boafo will bring enthusiasm and belief in himself and the people of Maryland’s 5th to the job,” Ivey continued. “I look forward to working with him to fill the huge shoes of Congressman Steny Hoyer.”
Ivey, first elected in 2022 to the seat and never having served during unified control of Congress, wants to see the midterm results turn into legislative action and concrete results.
McCarthy: ‘A Shift Towards Civic Engagement‘
“We are a big tent party with a lot of views and a lot of talented and smart leaders. But this mid term election must not be an intoxicating swig of overconfidence but a dose of potent reality,” he told The Informer. “ The American people want change. They want us to get things done. We must offer an affirmative vision of what we will do moving forward.”
Maryland saw record Early Voting turnout and turnout rose in all three of Maryland’s majority-Black jurisdictions. Nationally, this was the second-highest turnout midterm in the past century, only exceeded by 2018.
For McCarthy, the recent election “signals a shift toward greater civic engagement and a renewed willingness among people to participate in the political process.”
The 10-year Seat Pleasant council member said she wants to see changes to the traditional approach to governing in Washington.
“I want to see a restructuring of how we approach legislation and how we engage with the people we represent. I would like to see more single-issue bills that allow lawmakers to focus on meaningful solutions rather than binding multiple priorities into legislation that can become difficult to navigate,” she said. “Most importantly, I want to see better communication and transparency with constituents because politics is no longer something that should be considered taboo, and access to information should never be gate-kept from the people.”
McCarthy has been leading a Black Civic Leadership Academy to get new voices engaged in the political process, and the calls for new leadership and new ideas at the national level may indicate a rise in civic engagement.
“I hope this momentum encourages more people, particularly those who have historically been underrepresented, to step into leadership and recognize that they have a seat at the table in shaping the future of the Democratic Party.”
McCarthy is excited by the changes in Washington, and has statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico on her priority list.
“I believe there is a real opportunity for progress on statehood, particularly for the District of Columbia, which deserves the same representation and self-determination afforded to other Americans. With fresh energy, new perspectives, and a renewed commitment to democratic principles, I am hopeful that the new congressional majorities will take action on issues that have been overlooked or stalled for far too long,” she told The Informer. “The people of both D.C. and Puerto Rico deserve to have their voices fully represented, and this is an opportunity for Congress to demonstrate that representation and democracy must extend to everyone.”
With Seat Pleasant 10 miles from the nation’s capital, economic development and job creation are regional goals that both cities share.
“I am extremely excited to see Mayor-elect [Janeese Lewis] George, the first democratic socialist elected to that role, navigate this issue,” she added.
Van Hollen: ‘There Should Be No Coronation of the Next Democratic Leader‘
With several elected senators loudly proclaiming the need for new leadership, Sen. Van Hollen is contacting his colleagues in the Senate to gauge their support in a potential candidacy for majority leader, one of the most powerful roles in Washington.
He publicly announced his consideration via social media on Nov. 12.
“In this election, Americans called on us to unrig an economy rigged against working people [and] fueled by political corruption,” he wrote on Facebook. “To deliver, we need new leadership. This isn’t about any one person – it’s about answering that call. That’s why I’m running for Senate Majority Leader.”
Van Hollen is also challenging Washington’s military relationship with Israel, questioning whether Democrats should retain their current Senate leadership and entertaining a presidential run, placing the veteran lawmaker at the center of a struggle over who will shape his party’s future after its sweeping midterm election victories.
His latest confrontation reportedly involves three provisions in the annual defense authorization bill that would deepen American military and intelligence cooperation with Israel, potentially limiting a president’s ability to withhold sensitive information or reconsider joint weapons programs even when Israeli government actions conflict with U.S. interests.
“The agreements and projects these provisions envision threaten U.S. national security interests by handing Israel leverage over American weapons systems and military technology,” Van Hollen and 11 fellow senators warned in a Nov. 10 letter to congressional leaders. “This is not hypothetical.”
The letter represents one of Van Hollen’s most direct challenges to the longstanding assumptions governing American military support for Israel.
It also puts him at odds with policies embraced by powerful members of both parties as progressive Democrats increasingly consider him a possible replacement for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Several of the 11 newly elected members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, along with Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are not planning to support Schumer for Majority Leader.
Further, Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) are not committing to support Schumer.
“There should be no coronation of the next Democratic leader,” Van Hollen said. “I’ve said very clearly that we need to have a discussion in the Democratic caucus, we need to understand what the Democrats are going to do with this new responsibility and these new powers, and nobody should get a blank check without a full understanding of the caucus as to where we’re going to go.”
Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are all publicly supporting Schumer to return to the leadership role. Sens. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Conn.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) all joined Schumer at a recent press conference as he discussed caucus unity.
“We have an opportunity to do things differently regardless of who the leader is,” Kelly said in a CNN interview. “It looks like it’s gonna be Chuck Schumer. I don’t know if anyone else is running against him. This is a guy who worked incredibly hard over the past couple of years. We have a mandate to get things done for the American people, and we can get that done with Chuck Schumer.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers sent a letter to Sen. Schumer urging him to not seek another term leading Senate Democrats.
“After thoughtful discussions with our IAM Union Executive Council, we believe this is the right moment for a new generation to lead Senate Democrats,” read the letter “With the utmost respect and appreciation for your service, we respectfully urge you not to seek another term as Senate Democratic leader.”
Ivey signaled the need for new Senate leadership in March of last year.
“I respect Chuck Schumer. I think he had a great career. But it may be time for Senate Democrats to get a new leader,” said Ivey during a March 2025 town hall. “We’ve got a limited number of shots at being able to fight back against the Trump administration and what they’re doing. We can’t afford to miss the moment again.”
Marylanders representing a breadth of regions, religions, and ethnic groups including House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-District 21), former Gov. Martin O’Malley, Del. Ashanti Martinez (D-District 22), Del. Jeff Long (D-District 27B), Del. Gabriel Moreno (D-District 13), Maryland Democratic Party official Robbie Leonard, Howard County Democratic official Shahan Rizvi, former Montgomery County Delegate Saqib Ali, Baltimore County Central Committeeman Ian Miller (D-District 44), and Carroll County Central Committeewoman Dayana Bergman (D-District 5) have expressed support for Van Hollen to serve as Majority Leader.
Martinez, who serves as the majority whip of the Maryland General Assembly and is a longtime mentee of Peña-Melnyk, spoke with strong praise of Van Hollen’s values and is encouraging other Democrats to show their support for a new generation of leadership in the U.S. Senate.
“I’ve seen Chris Van Hollen’s leadership firsthand. From traveling to El Salvador to demand accountability for a Marylander to speaking truth about Gaza, Chris has consistently shown up,” Martinez told The Informer. “At this critical moment, Democrats need a Senate Majority Leader with the courage and moral clarity to unite our caucus and deliver for our country. I proudly support him for Senate Majority Leader and hope he will step forward and seek the position.”
