In the wake of President-Elect Donald Trump’s triumph earlier this month, the Democratic National Committee said Monday that it will elect a new chairman on February 1.
In order to elect new executives, including the chair, Democrats will have four public forums in January for candidates to present their candidacies before the party’s Winter Meeting at National Harbor, Maryland, which is located just outside of Washington.
The DNC claims to be seeking feedback from the public and outsiders, yet the only voters are the 448 active members, which include elected officials, party insiders, and leaders of affiliated organizations like unions from all over the nation.
The party’s regulations and Bylaws Committee will meet on December 12 to finalize the regulations governing the contest, but as of right now, contenders must obtain the signatures of at least 40 DNC members to be eligible to run and appear on the ballot.
Former Minnesota Democratic Chair Ken Martin and former Maryland Governor Martin O. Malley have already announced their candidacies, and a number of others are actively evaluating their options. Ben Wikler, the chair of the Wisconsin State Party, is expected to make an announcement shortly after Thanksgiving, according to someone familiar with his thoughts.
The schedule will be tighter than it was in 2017, when the party held an election on February 25 to elect a new chair after losing the White House.
Democrats will be able to appoint a new chair on February 1st, just after Trump’s inauguration on January 20th and at the beginning of his administration.
When their party loses power, party chairs gain additional authority and importance.
The president effectively chooses the chair when Democrats have the White House, as they did under President Joe Biden, and the DNC serves as the president’s political wing.
However, when Republicans hold sway, the race for the DNC chair becomes a free-for-all in which a variety of contenders present opposing ideas for the party and the chair position.
Outgoing DNC Chair Jaime Harrison stated, “We are starting to lay out the process for upcoming DNC officer elections in the New Year as my time as Chair comes to an end and we prepare to undertake the critical work of holding the Trump Administration and Republican Party accountable for their extremism and false promises.”
One of the DNC Membership’s most significant duties is electing the Chair and DNC officers, and our staff will conduct an open and transparent process that allows members to learn more about the candidates before casting their ballots, Harrison continued.
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