Perez elected leader of DNC
Ex-labor chief anoints rival as his deputy
ATLANTA — Former Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee on Saturday, narrowly defeating Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota to take the helm of a still-divided party stunned by President Donald Trump’s victory but hopeful that it can ride the backlash against his presidency to revival.
Th e balloting, which carried a measure of suspense not seen in the party in decades, revealed that Democrats have yet to heal the wounds from last year’s presidential primary. Perez, buoyed by activists most loyal to former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, won with 235 votes out of 435 cast on the second ballot.
Ellison, who was lifted primarily by the liberal enthusiasts of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, captured the remaining 200 votes. But that was only after he pushed the voting to a second round after Perez fell a single vote short of winning on the first ballot.
After Perez’s victory was announced, Ellison’s supporters exploded in anger and drowned out the interim chairwoman, Donna Brazile, with a chant of “Party for the people, not big money!” When Perez was able to speak, he called for Ellison to be named deputy chairman, delighting Ellison’s supporters.
Taking the microphone from Perez, Ellison pleaded with his backers: “We don’t have the luxury to walk out of this room divided.”
In his victory speech, Perez played down what he called “the robust discussions in the Democratic Party.” “We’re all going to continue to be united in our values,” he said.
Addressing reporters with Ellison, Perez vowed to shift the committee from its overriding focus on presidential politics.
Neither of the two Democrats laid out Ellison’s role at the party, but they intimated that they had discussed joining forces in some fashion well before the vote. The congressman said he would not quit his House seat.