Top Democrats on Saturday chose former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez to lead the celebration in its opposition to the agenda of President Donald Trump.
The establishment and progressive wings of the party had been split among Perez and Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison over the final a number of months. Some progressives said they had been reluctant to fall in line behind Perez should really he win.
Perez has operate to do: In addition to losing the 2016 presidential race, the Democrats have lost dozens of Congressional seats and hundreds of state legislature seats more than the last numerous election cycles.
So who is Tom Perez? Here’s every little thing you require to know:
Tom Perez served as secretary of labor for 3 years soon after being appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2013. Ahead of that, he was labor secretary for the state of Maryland and was a civil rights lawyer for the Department of Justice. He’s also a graduate of Harvard Law College. Perez was born to Dominican immigrants in Buffalo, New York. He has never ever held elected workplace.
A group of extra than 400 top rated Democrats gathered on Saturday in Atlanta to cast their ballots to replace Interim Chair Donna Brazile. Perez fell a single ballot quick of a majority on the first round of voting. He defeated Ellison by a 235-200 vote in a second round.
Perez lined up many higher profile endorsements from former President Obama’s orbit, including former Vice President Joe Biden, former Lawyer General Eric Holder and former Well being and Human Solutions Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bernie Sanders backed Ellison and former chair Howard Dean backed South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Obama and former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton did not endorse everyone.
Perez’s nomination for Secretary of Labor was divisive: He was confirmed 54-46 on a celebration-line vote right after criticism from Republicans. These in the Obama administration called him an efficient leader and manager. He worked closely on minimum wage challenges. But in order to toe the Obama White Property line, he backed the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. The choice place him at direct odds with a number of key unions across the country.
The question now is whether or not Perez can unite several factions of the party and bring grassroots organizers into the fold. Perez named Ellison deputy chair of the party instantly after the vote. Several leading progressive activists including chairs of the Women’s March and founders of the Persons for Bernie organization remain skeptical of Perez. They lobbied hard for Ellison and framed the race as an outsider against an insider, building the perception among lots of that by electing Perez more than Ellison the party was missing a essential opportunity attain out and involve people who felt left out and on the fridges of the institution.
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