The Maryland senator has emerged as an outspoken critic of Israel in the Senate. A presidential campaign would give him a larger platform for his views
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Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore at Bowie State University on November 7, 2022 in Bowie, Maryland.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), one of the most strident critics of the Israeli government in the Senate, is set to deliver the keynote speech next month at an Iowa Democratic Party fundraiser that’s a frequent stop for high-profile Democrats and presidential hopefuls.
The Polk County Steak Fry in Des Moines is a highly watched annual event for Democratic politicos, and Van Hollen’s appearance is a sign of the senator’s ambitions for higher office.
Van Hollen has become a leading voice of the party’s left wing on foreign affairs, and was an early critic of Israel for its war against Hamas in Gaza. He has also asserted himself as a prominent figure in the party on other issues, including pushing for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the Trump administration deported for several months to a high-security prison in El Salvador.
A Van Hollen campaign spokesperson told JI the senator is “looking forward to the opportunity to speak to Iowans about the future of the Democratic party as we confront a lawless president and chart a new course.”
Polk County Democrats Chair Bill Brauch told the Baltimore Banner that the party seeks out Democrats with national appeal and that they saw him as a “big get.”
“Throughout his career, he has been a tireless advocate for equal rights, justice, and opportunity, fighting to create good jobs, strengthen small businesses, and expand access to education and job training for all,” the group said in its announcement. “In Congress, Senator Van Hollen has defended Social Security and Medicare, worked across party lines to protect the Chesapeake Bay, expand medical research, fight childhood cancer, and pass the ABLE Act to help families with children with disabilities.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker — also seen as a potential presidential contender in 2028 — headlined the event last year, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was the headliner in 2023. Barack Obama delivered the keynote in 2007.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg have made stop-overs in the Hawkeye State in recent months — which may be restored to its first-in-the-nation status in the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination process.