| | Typically the party's top fundraiser is elected party chairman. In 2017, Rep. [[Keith Ellison]] held the distinction. Symone Sanders, Bernie Sanders former press secretary said, "We don't need white people leading the Democratic party."<ref>https://youtu.be/I1rslAgK8uM</ref> Ellison was endorsed by Senators [[Bernie Sanders]],<ref>https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/02/keith-ellison-democratic-national-committee-chair/</ref> [[Chuck Schumer]],<ref>"DetrowEllisonTape"</ref> [[Harry Reid]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 13, 2016|last=Strauss |first=Daniel |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/harry-reid-keith-ellison-231297|title=Reid endorses Ellison for DNC chairman|newspaper=POLITICO|access-date=}}</ref> [[Elizabeth Warren]], [[Martin Heinrich]], Representatives [[John Lewis]], [[Luis Gutierrez]], [[Tulsi Gabbard]], the [[AFL-CIO]], among many others.<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Strauss|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/keith-ellison-dnc-endorsements-232420|title=Ellison adds more congressional endorsements in DNC bid|website=[[Politico]]|date=December 9, 2016|access-date=}}</ref> However, the prospect of an African-American [[Muslim]] leading the party frightened off the party's [[intolerant]] establishment, and [[Tom Perez]] was considered a suitable replacement.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/samharris/comments/77k5v4/dnc_hides_behind_identity_politics_while_purging/ DNC hides behind identity politics while purging Progressives from DNC Executive Committee]</ref> A special position which had never existed before, Deputy Chair, and Ellison was relegated to the back of the bus. | | Typically the party's top fundraiser is elected party chairman. In 2017, Rep. [[Keith Ellison]] held the distinction. Symone Sanders, Bernie Sanders former press secretary said, "We don't need white people leading the Democratic party."<ref>https://youtu.be/I1rslAgK8uM</ref> Ellison was endorsed by Senators [[Bernie Sanders]],<ref>https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/02/keith-ellison-democratic-national-committee-chair/</ref> [[Chuck Schumer]],<ref>"DetrowEllisonTape"</ref> [[Harry Reid]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 13, 2016|last=Strauss |first=Daniel |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/harry-reid-keith-ellison-231297|title=Reid endorses Ellison for DNC chairman|newspaper=POLITICO|access-date=}}</ref> [[Elizabeth Warren]], [[Martin Heinrich]], Representatives [[John Lewis]], [[Luis Gutierrez]], [[Tulsi Gabbard]], the [[AFL-CIO]], among many others.<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Strauss|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/keith-ellison-dnc-endorsements-232420|title=Ellison adds more congressional endorsements in DNC bid|website=[[Politico]]|date=December 9, 2016|access-date=}}</ref> However, the prospect of an African-American [[Muslim]] leading the party frightened off the party's [[intolerant]] establishment, and [[Tom Perez]] was considered a suitable replacement.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/samharris/comments/77k5v4/dnc_hides_behind_identity_politics_while_purging/ DNC hides behind identity politics while purging Progressives from DNC Executive Committee]</ref> A special position which had never existed before, Deputy Chair, and Ellison was relegated to the back of the bus. |