Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, is signaling he may run for president in 2028 after drawing national attention for traveling to El Salvador to advocate for the release of an alleged MS-13 gang member.
In an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, Van Hollen said Sunday that Democrats have failed to effectively communicate their alternative message ahead of November midterm elections. The senator has made multiple visits to early primary states including New Hampshire and Iowa as he weighs a potential candidacy.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices within the Democratic Party have largely welcomed Van Hollen's entry into what is expected to be a crowded 2028 field. Supporters say his willingness to challenge the Trump administration on immigration issues demonstrates conviction, even when politically costly.
"I think we need this healthy debate because I don't think Democrats have put forward a clear alternative to the Trump administration," Van Hollen said in the NBC interview. "Bottom line, I think Democrats need to be very clear not just what we're against, but what we're for."
When asked about Democratic socialists' place in the party during the same interview, Van Hollen responded: "They do, as part of the debate. I am not afraid to debate. I think that those in the Democratic Party afraid of a healthy debate are missing the point."
What the Right Is Saying
Republican critics have sharply condemned Van Hollen's trip to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 member who was initially deported under the Trump administration's agreement with El Salvador before being returned to the United States.
"Sen. Van Hollen made national headlines and drew intense backlash after traveling to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia," The Daily Wire reported. "The Maryland Democrat's soft launch will likely add another name to what is expected to be a crowded 2028 field."
Conservative commentators have argued that advocating for the release of suspected gang members undermines federal immigration enforcement and sends the wrong message on public safety. Republicans have noted that the Trump administration is working to revive charges against Garcia.
What the Numbers Show
The 2024 presidential election results showed significant shifts in traditionally Democratic-voting populations, with many working-class voters breaking toward President Donald Trump's coalition. Exit polling indicated economic concerns as a primary driver of voter behavior across multiple swing states.
Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have won several high-profile races since the 2024 election, including three House seats previously held by mainstream Democrats and socialist-aligned candidate Zohran Mamdani's upset victory in New York City's mayoral primary. The party has also succeeded in nominating Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate in Michigan.
The Bottom Line
Van Hollen's potential candidacy represents an early test of whether moderate Democrats can stake out viable positions in a party where progressive and socialist voices have grown increasingly influential since the 2024 election results.
The Maryland senator is positioning himself as a voice for working-class economic concerns while maintaining his stance on immigration issues that have drawn criticism from Republicans. His explicit embrace of intraparty debate suggests he intends to run as an alternative to both Trump and the leftward flank of his own party.
Whether such a position can gain traction in a Democratic primary remains to be seen, particularly given recent electoral successes by socialist-aligned candidates. The 2028 primary field is expected to include multiple high-profile Democrats, with Van Hollen's entry adding another establishment voice to what some describe as a churning contest over the party's future direction.