Chris Van Hollen

Christopher Van Hollen Jr. is a Democratic politician serving as the senior United States senator from Maryland. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, he represented Maryland's 8th district from 2003 until his election to the Senate in 2016. His political career began in the Maryland General Assembly, where he served in the House of Delegates and the State Senate. Van Hollen was born in Karachi, Pakistan, while his father was serving as a U.S. Foreign Service officer. He received his education from Swarthmore College, the Harvard Kennedy School, and Georgetown University Law Center. Van Hollen has held several key leadership roles, including serving as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In the Senate, he has been an active member of the Appropriations, Foreign Relations, and Banking committees. His legislative work includes significant contributions to the Affordable Care Act, the DISCLOSE Act for campaign finance reform, and environmental initiatives focused on the Chesapeake Bay.

Van Hollen's stated positions align with the Democratic Party's platform. He advocates for universal healthcare access, supporting the Affordable Care Act and efforts to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Economically, he focuses on reducing income inequality, supporting a higher minimum wage, and championing tax credits for working families and middle-class households. He is a strong proponent of environmental conservation, particularly regarding the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and the transition to renewable energy to address climate change. In foreign policy, Van Hollen emphasizes diplomacy and human rights, having pushed for oversight of foreign military aid and sanctions against actors in North Korea and China. On immigration, he supports comprehensive reform that includes a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and TPS holders, alongside investments in border security.