New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday that he has endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., to become the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee, giving the congressman another high-profile backer as he looks to sew up support for his bid.
In a statement, de Blasio argued that Ellison is the right person at the right time to lead the Democrats forward, pointing to his work as a work as a “grassroots organizer,” his push for “economic fairness,” and his status as a political “unifier” as reasons he is backing his candidacy.
“The Democratic Party stands at a crossroads, and needs leadership that will expand our vision to more Americans — while also intensifying our commitment to our core values. Keith Ellison is that leader,” de Blasio said. “A grassroots organizer, he has delivered real results like increased voter turnout in his native Minnesota. A passionate fighter for economic fairness, he will pursue an opportunity agenda for Americans who have felt left behind.”
“At this critical threshold, Keith Ellison is the leader we need to defend our principles, move the party forward and begin to take our country back from a dangerous right-wing agenda,” de Blasio said. “I am proud to endorse him for DNC Chairman.”
The New York mayor is the latest high-profile Democrat to endorse Ellison’s bid, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Ellison is expected to be challenged by Labor Secretary Tom Perez, who is set to announce his bid for the chairmanship, according to the New York Times.
Ellison recently announced that he is prepared to leave Congress if he wins the chairmanship in March after calls for the new chairman to take up the role full-time rather than also serving in Congress. However, his bid has not come without some questions — namely about his ties to the Nation of Islam and about past connections to anti-Semitism, which Ellison rejects.
The vote to take over for Donna Brazile, who took over as interim chair after the Democratic National Convention in August, will take place in March.
