Howard Dean, a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, will take the reins of a new data exchange as Democrats aim to compete with Republican rivals heading into the 2020 presidential race.
The former Vermont governor and Democratic National Committee chairman confirmed to the Associated Press that he’ll lead the operation, which has been put together by DNC officials, state party leaders, and Democratic consultants.
“This is a big breakthrough,” Dean said. “This is a model we’ve needed, and Republicans have it already. I’d sort of given up that we could get it done.”
Through the deal, national party, state parties, and independent political action groups would be able to share voter data in real time, in an effort to turn out voters.
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Republicans used their own model to help President Trump win the 2016 election, in one of the most astounding upsets in recent presidential history.
State party leaders still need to sign on, and have resisted in the past because they sold the data to candidates as a revenue source. The new plan would allow state parties to hang on to some data and sell it to campaigns if they choose.
Still, the new job for Dean represents a reproachment of sorts with the national Democratic establishment. After his insurgent 2004 Democratic primary campaign fell short, Dean was elected DNC chair the next winter. His tenure as DNC chair was at once tumultuous and victorious. Democrats in 2006 won majorities in both the House and Senate. But Dean frequently clashed with party leaders over a “50-state strategy” he said aimed to build infrastructure for future races.
After Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential race, Dean didn’t get a Cabinet position in the new Democratic administration. He’s largely been on the sidelines of party politics since.
