In the aftermath of the election of Donald Trump and a Republican Congress, Minnesota representative Keith Ellison has emerged as a leading contender to chair the Democratic National Committee. Ellison resides on the far-left fringe of the Democratic party. But perhaps it is a fringe no more. Ellison has received the support not only of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren but also of prospective Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.

I have followed Ellison’s career since he secured the endorsement of the Fifth congressional district Democratic-Farmer-Labor convention in 2006, against the handpicked successor of long-time incumbent Martin Sabo when Sabo was to step down. Ellison presented himself to the convention as the leftward-most viable candidate to succeed Sabo and dared the delegates to vote their true views. It was a winning argument at the convention, though it resulted in a competitive four-way primary for the Democratic nomination that September. Ellison prevailed in the primary with 42 percent of the vote. It’s the last truly competitive election in which Ellison has run.