Chris Van Hollen has represented Maryland in the U.S. Senate since 2017. Before that, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives (2003–2017) and in the Maryland General Assembly. He was born January 10, 1959, in Karachi, Pakistan, while his father served in the U.S. Foreign Service. He later graduated from Swarthmore College, earned a master’s from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a J.D. from Georgetown University.
In the Senate, Van Hollen has positioned himself as a progressive Democrat with a focus on voting rights, climate, and middle-class affordability. He’s been a loud voice on campaign finance reform, corporate tax accountability, and transparency in political money.
He also works the budget angle: pushing revenue from high-income earners and corporations to fund healthcare access, education, and environmental cleanup in places like the Chesapeake Bay.
Progressive Democrat
Achievements
- High-profile advocate for voting rights protections and election access nationwide
- Backed climate action and Chesapeake Bay restoration funding
- Pushed to expand mental health services and lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs
- Worked on campaign finance transparency and anti–dark money rules
- Uses budget/tax policy to argue for progressive revenue and middle-class relief
Controversies
- Criticized by moderates and business groups for supporting higher corporate taxation and tighter campaign finance rules
- Attacked from the right as too willing to spend at the federal level on social and climate programs
- Seen by some Maryland centrists as prioritizing national progressive fights over in-state economic competitiveness
- Occasional friction with more centrist Democrats on how far and how fast to move on tax and regulatory policy
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| JStreetPAC | $60,080 | $59,080 | $1,000 |
| Leidos Inc | $48,075 | $38,075 | $10,000 |
| Gallagher, Evelius & Jones | $34,500 | $34,500 | $0 |
| Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer | $31,053 | $31,053 | $0 |
| WilmerHale LLP | $28,250 | $28,250 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2016 Margin D +25%
2022 Margin D +32%