ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has won a second term by defeating Republican Chris Chaffee.
Van Hollen had been considered a heavy favorite on Tuesday in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1, and his seat was considered a safe one for Democrats.
The 63-year-old was elected to the Senate in 2016 after serving seven terms in the U.S. House.
Long a champion of the Chesapeake Bay, Van Hollen praised passage of clean energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act.
He has strongly criticized former President Donald Trump’s administration for rolling back environmental protections.