Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Wednesday formally endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) to lead the Democratic National Committee.
Warren, who said Ellison would be a “terrific” choice for the position on Friday, joins a long list of politicians, party officials, and labor leaders who have already endorsed the congressman, who formally announced Monday that he would seek the position.
“I admire Keith’s values, his grit, and his dedication to making this country work not just for some of our kids but for all of them,” Warren said in a statement.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the new minority leader in that chamber, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also indicated their support of Ellison’s candidacy last week. Outgoing minority leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) endorsed Ellison for the role on Sunday.
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who was a candidate in the Democratic presidential primaries, bowed out of the race for DNC chair on Wednesday, leaving Ellison a clearer favorite for the job.
While I’m grateful to the friends who have urged me to consider running for DNC Chair, I will not be seeking our Party’s Chairmanship (2/2)
— Martin O’Malley (@MartinOMalley) November 16, 2016
Give 'em hell, Keith.
I like Keith Ellison a lot. What Howard Dean says is also very true. The Democratic Party needs a lot of work,and the DNC chair needs to be a full-time job. Hard to do if you are already a congressmen.
If he’s mostly setting the strategy—chair of the board, rather than executive director, you might say—it could work. Seems to be a lot to like there and a growing consensus. I’d like to know more but from what I know he seems very forward-looking. And his being a Muslim has an in-your-face defiant quality I like a lot.
The position is thankless. I have no doubt Rep. Ellison is a smart man. I assume that of the 20+ seats Dems have to defend in 2018, we’ll be lucky to salvage half. When we lose those seats, he’s gonna be the one to take the spear in the chest. He’d better be prepared.
EDIT TO ADD:
mattinpa I like it too but I have the luxury of being a NY’er. If I were in the Rust Belt states, I might be kinda put off by it. Not saying that’s the way it should be but the way it might be.
I like Keith Ellison a lot but…WTF can’t we have a full time person doing this instead of a side job?