2017 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election explained

See main article: Democratic National Committee.

Election Name:2017 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election
Flag Image:Democratic Disc.svg
Type:presidential
Vote Type:Caucus
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2011 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election
Previous Year:2011
Election Date:February 25, 2017[1]
Next Election:2021 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election
Next Year:2021
Votes For Election:435 members of the DNC who voted
Needed Votes:218
Candidate1:Tom Perez
Color1:3333FF
Popular Vote1:235
Percentage1:54.02%
Candidate2:Keith Ellison
Color2:3333FF
Popular Vote2:200
Percentage2:45.98%
Chair
After Election:Tom Perez

The 2017 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election was held on February 25, 2017, at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta to determine the next chairperson of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).[1] [2] [3] It was the first contested DNC chair election since 1985.

Tom Perez and Keith Ellison emerged as the favored candidates of the majority of DNC members. Other candidates included Sally Boynton Brown, Pete Buttigieg, future DNC chairman Jaime Harrison, Sam Ronan and Jehmu Greene. Perez was elected chairperson after two rounds of voting.

Background

Following the 2016 DNC email leak, which suggested that the DNC leadership showed favor to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential primary, Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned as DNC Chairwoman, and was succeeded on an interim basis by Donna Brazile.[4]

Brazile announced that she would not run for a full term.[5] With no president to select a chair, this became the first contested DNC chair election since 1985.[6] A DNC executive committee meeting took place in December to provide further procedural clarity into the race, though the election itself was to be held at the DNC's Winter Meeting in late February 2017.[1] The 448 DNC members were the sole voting members. A quarter of the members were state level chairs and vice chairs; the remainder had been elected at the state level. To be elected as chair, a simple majority of votes was required.[7]

Timeline

Candidates

Calling for a return to the fifty-state strategy, Howard Dean, a former Governor of Vermont who served as chairman of the DNC from 2005 to 2009, announced his candidacy on November 10.[9] Citing the potential for a divisive race, Dean withdrew himself from consideration on December 2.[10]

Keith Ellison, U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district, announced his candidacy on November 14.[11] That day, South Carolina Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison also declared himself a candidate.[12] New Hampshire Democratic Party chairman Raymond Buckley declared his candidacy on November 29. On December 16, 2016, Sally Boynton Brown, executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party, announced her candidacy.[13]

After meeting with DNC members, Ellison announced on December 7 that he would resign his seat in the House of Representatives if elected DNC chair, so that he could focus his full attention on the job.[14] One week later, Labor Secretary Tom Perez announced his candidacy. On February 1, former Vice President Joe Biden publicly offered his support for Perez.[15] South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced his candidacy on January 5, 2017. Fox News analyst Jehmu Greene announced her candidacy on January 12, 2017.[16]

Another possible candidate was Representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona.[17] Former California Assembly Speaker John Pérez contemplated a run,[18] but first decided instead to run for Congress,[19] then withdrew from that for health reasons.[20] Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, once considered a potential candidate, took herself out of consideration.[5] Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley said that he was "taking a hard look" at running for DNC chairman,[21] but decided not to run.[22] Ilyse Hogue, the President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Representative Steve Israel of New York announced that they would not run.[23] [24] [25] DNC Vice-chair R. T. Rybak considered a run, then chose to endorse Ellison when the latter announced his candidacy.[26]

Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Representative John Lewis, former Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly supported Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.[5] [27] [28] [29] MoveOn.org, led by Ilya Sheyman, has also expressed support for Ellison,[5] along with Progressive Democrats Of America.

Declared candidates


Withdrew prior to balloting

Declined

Forums and debates

The candidates participated in regional forums in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 13 and 14, in Houston, Texas, on January 27 and 28, in Detroit, Michigan, on February 3 and 4, and in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 10 and 11.[46] They participated in two debates: the first at George Washington University, hosted by The Huffington Post, on January 18[47] and the second in Atlanta, sponsored and aired nationally by CNN, on February 22.[48]

Results

With 447 voting members of the DNC, 224 votes were expected to be needed to win the chairmanship.[49] However, only 427 members voted in the first round (Chairperson Donna Brazile and two other members present did not vote, and one abstained), so only 214.5 votes were required to reach the threshold for victory. In the first round, Perez received 213.5 votes, while Ellison received 200, Boynton Brown received 12, Buttigieg received one, and Greene received 0.5.[50]

After the first round, Greene dropped out and endorsed Perez, while Peckarsky and Ronan dropped out and endorsed Ellison. Boynton Brown withdrew without endorsing a candidate. In the second round, 435 votes were cast: 235 for Tom Perez and 200 for Keith Ellison.[51] After Perez won, he selected Ellison as deputy chair.[52]

The vote tally was obtained through an email from the DNC.[53]

CandidateRound 1Round 2
1Withdrew
12Withdrew
200200
0.5Withdrew
0Withdrew
213.5235
0Withdrew
20
10

Candidate secured enough votes to win election

Candidate secured a plurality of votes in the round

Candidate withdrew

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DNC chair vote: live coverage. The Hill. Easley. Jonathan. February 25, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  2. Web site: DNC chair campaigns scramble ahead of tight vote. Will. Sommer. February 24, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  3. Web site: DNC chair vote: live coverage. Will. Sommer. February 25, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  4. News: DNC chairwoman will resign in aftermath of committee email controversy. Gearan. Anne. Rucker. Philip. July 24, 2016. The Washington Post. Phillip. Abby. November 10, 2016.
  5. Web site: Could The Left Stage a DNC Coup? 'There Has to Be a Complete Restructuring'. Alex. Seitz-Wald. NBC News. November 10, 2016. November 10, 2016.
  6. News: Thomas Perez elected the first Latino leader of Democratic Party. The Washington Post. March 6, 2017.
  7. Web site: Easley. Jonathan. Mystery surrounds DNC race. The Hill. November 16, 2016. November 19, 2016.
  8. News: DNC chair vote: live coverage. Sommer. Will. 2017-02-25. The Hill. 2017-02-25.
  9. Web site: Howard Dean running for DNC chief. Elliot. Smilowitz. November 10, 2016. The Hill. November 10, 2016.
  10. Web site: Howard Dean drops out of race for DNC chair. Gabriel. Debenedetti. Politico. December 2, 2016. December 2, 2016.
  11. Web site: MN Rep. Keith Ellison announces run for DNC chair. Rachel E.. Stassen-Berger. Pioneer Press. November 14, 2016. December 7, 2016.
  12. Web site: SC Democrats' Harrison a frontrunner for DNC chair?. November 10, 2016.
  13. News: Idaho Democratic executive wants to chair national Democratic Party. Kimberlee. Kruesi. Associated Press. Idaho Statesman. December 16, 2016. February 23, 2017.
  14. Web site: Rep. Keith Ellison: I will resign my seat if I win DNC chair: The party wants a full-time chair, Ellison acknowledged. Allison. Sherry. Star Tribune. December 7, 2016. December 7, 2016.
  15. News: Joe Biden backs Thomas Perez for DNC chair. The Washington Post. February 3, 2017.
  16. News: Fox News analyst jumps into DNC chair race . . Strauss . Daniel . January 13, 2017 . January 13, 2017 .
  17. Web site: Latino Congressman Seriously Considering Run for Top DNC job. Victor. Landa. Newstaco. November 11, 2016. November 11, 2016.
  18. News: John Perez mulling run for DNC chairman. November 29, 2016. Politico. Carla. Marinucci. December 3, 2016 .
  19. News: Becerra's attorney general selection sets off scurry for House replacement . December 1, 2016 . Sacramento Bee . Alexei . Koseff . January 22, 2017.
  20. News: Health concerns knock ex-State Assembly Speaker John Perez out of running for congressional seat . December 10, 2016 . MyNewsLA . Debbie . Sklar . January 22, 2017.
  21. Web site: O'Malley 'taking a hard look' at DNC chairman. Daniel. Strauss. Politico. November 11, 2016. November 11, 2016.
  22. News: O'Malley bows out of DNC race. Politico.
  23. Web site: NARAL chief says she won't run for DNC chair. Daniel. Strauss. Politico. December 21, 2016. December 21, 2016.
  24. Web site: Steve Israel says DNC chair is not for him. Christopher. Barca. Queens Chronicle. November 17, 2016. December 26, 2016.
  25. Web site: Strauss. Daniel. Indiana Mayor weights DNC chair bid. Politico. December 14, 2016.
  26. Web site: Fight erupts among Democrats for control of party in crisis: Battle to lead the DNC begins as progressives and centrists throw names into the ring. Gabriel. Debenedetti. Politico. November 11, 2016. November 11, 2016.
  27. Web site: Zach. Carter. Harry Reid Endorses Keith Ellison For DNC Chairman. HuffPost. November 13, 2016. November 13, 2016.
  28. News: Keith Ellison, Howard Dean offered as possible DNC chairmen as Democrats seek to regroup. John. Wagner. The Washington Post. November 10, 2016. November 10, 2016.
  29. Web site: Warren And Schumer Express Support For Keith Ellison As DNC Chairman. Matt. Shuham. Talking Points Memo. November 11, 2016. November 11, 2016.
  30. Web site: Idaho official to run for DNC chair. Strauss. Daniel. December 16, 2016. Politico. December 16, 2016.
  31. Web site: Marans. Daniel. No Democratic Party Chair Winner In First Round Of Balloting. HuffPost. February 25, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  32. Web site: Labor Secretary Tom Perez will challenge Rep. Keith Ellison in race to be DNC chair. November 11, 2016. Chicago tribune. December 14, 2016.
  33. News: Buckley exits DNC chair race, backs Ellison. Sophie . Tatum. CNN. February 18, 2017. February 24, 2017.
  34. Web site: New Hampshire chairman jumps into DNC race. Daniel. Strauss. Politico. November 29, 2016. December 2, 2016.
  35. Web site: Buckley shakes up DNC race with Ellison endorsement. Politico. February 18, 2017. February 18, 2017.
  36. News: Buttigieg to run for Democratic National Committee chair. Jeff. Parrott . South Bend Tribune. January 5, 2017.
  37. Web site: Pete Buttigieg Drops Out Of DNC Chair Race: He did not endorse another candidate. Zach. Carter. Daniel. Marans. HuffPost. February 25, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  38. Web site: Easley. Jonathan. Dean drops out of DNC chairmanship race. The Hill. December 2, 2016. December 2, 2016.
  39. Web site: Howard Dean endorses South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg for DNC chair. Politico. February 22, 2017.
  40. Web site: DNC chair vote: live coverage. The Hill. February 25, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  41. Web site: All Due Respect. Jaime Harrison Throws Hat in the Ring for DNC Chair. Bloomberg. November 19, 2016.
  42. Web site: DNC Race: Jaime Harrison Drops Out, Endorses Tom Perez for Chair. NBC News. February 23, 2017 . February 23, 2017.
  43. Web site: Biden nixes the idea of DNC chair run. Politico.
  44. Web site: Field of Candidates to Head Democratic Party Expands Quickly. November 12, 2016. Alex. Seitz-Wald. CNBC. October 31, 2022.
  45. Web site: Rep. Keith Ellison Enters Race for DNC Chair With Strong Support. Alex. Seitz-Wald. NBC News. November 14, 2016. December 27, 2016.
  46. Web site: DNC Regional Forums. democrats.org. February 24, 2017.
  47. Web site: Dems engage in friendly debate for DNC chair. Cyra. Master. January 18, 2017. The Hill. February 23, 2017.
  48. News: Democratic divisions on display at DNC debate. Eric . Bradner. CNN. February 22, 2017. February 23, 2017.
  49. Web site: DNC Race: How Democrats will pick their new chair. NBC News. February 23, 2017 . February 25, 2017.
  50. Web site: Perez Elected As Chairman Of Democratic National Committee. NPR. February 25, 2017. March 6, 2017. Montanaro. Domenico. Detrow. Scott.
  51. Web site: DNC chair vote: live coverage. The Hill. February 25, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  52. Web site: The Latest: Obama congratulates Perez as new DNC leader. kansascity.com. March 6, 2017.
  53. Web site: UPDATE: DNC Chair Race Election Results Tally Released – The Progressive Army . Progressivearmy.com . 2017-03-04 . 2022-08-15.