Wire reporting: (AP, via WCAX)

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said Tuesday he will not support Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York for Democratic leader when the new Senate convenes, speaking at a Capitol news conference after last week’s midterm elections^1,2,3.

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the election was about change and that he would not back Schumer for reelection as Democratic leader, according to CBS News². The Associated Press, carried by WCAX, Boston.com, KSAT and The Boston Globe, reported the same announcement (AP, via WCAX)^1,4,5,6. The Guardian also reported that Sanders said he would not back Schumer³.

CBS News said Democrats will control at least 54 Senate seats when the 120th Congress meets in January². The AP report said Democrats flipped Republican-held seats beyond the initially competitive map, including in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina^1,5,6.

Sanders appeared with Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who said she is not actively seeking the leader’s job and wants anyone seeking the post to present a plan to govern and communicate differently². Slotkin said, “I’m a no until and unless I see that from anyone,” according to CBS News².

No declared challenger has fully entered the race, CBS News said, though Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has said he is exploring a potential run and is calling colleagues². The AP report said Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed and other progressives have pushed Van Hollen as a possible contender, and that it is not clear how much backing he would have^5,6.

Schumer, 75, said at the Capitol he is confident he will be elected, according to the AP report^1,4,5. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the caucus is grateful for Schumer’s work^1,5,6. Schumer told AP after the election that the focus has to be on getting things done^4,5.

The AP report said Schumer recruited candidates who helped win the majority, including Sens.-elect Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Roy Cooper of North Carolina, while candidates he preferred lost Democratic primaries in Michigan and Maine^1,5,6. CBS News said Democratic leadership elections are expected in early December; the AP copy said those conversations have begun ahead of votes expected later this month^2,1,6.