Democratic Senate candidate Jaime Harrison speaks at a rally in Columbia, S.C., on Nov. 3, 2020.
President-elect Joe Biden announced Thursday (Jan. 14) that he has chosen former Senate candidate Jaime Harrison to be the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Harrison, 44, lost to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in the 2020 election. Harrison has served as chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party for four years, beginning in 2013. He is currently the vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Harrison said he was both “humbled” and “excited” to be named by Biden to chair the Democratic National Committee. In a statement, he said, “We’re going to organize (the Democratic Party) everywhere, invest in state parties, expand the landscape and (get voters) to vote for Democrats who will be the champions of service to the people of this country.”
Last year’s rival, Graham, congratulated Harrison on Twitter, writing, “I believe he (Harrison) will do a good job representing the Democratic cause.”
Incumbent Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez (D-Calif.) also said Harrison will “do a superb job of building on the progress we’ve made and strengthening our party.”
Biden also picked several vice chairmen Thursday, including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The Democratic National Committee will vote for its officers next week. Voting closes at noon on Jan. 21. Members can choose officers who are not named by Biden.
“This group represents the best and brightest of the Democratic Party,” Biden said in a statement.
“Their stories, long history of activism and work reflect the values of our party and the diversity that makes us so strong. At a time when the country faces multiple crises ranging from systemic racism to the COVID-19 (Chinese Communist Virus, Wuhan Pneumonia) epidemic, America’s working families need and deserve real leadership.”
“We need the nation and these sometimes more and sometimes less votes (up and down the ballot) to vote for Democrats. To do that, it will take tireless leaders committed to strengthening the infrastructure of the Democratic Party in every state. These leaders have been baptized in battle and are ready to take on this enormous task. I know they will get the job done.”
Biden’s deputy White House chief of staff, Jen O’Malley Dillon, also called the names on the list “battle-tested” and “very good.
“These leaders know what we need to do to make sure the party is strong and inclusive, while continuing to grow our support in state camps, and that’s how we continue to win and elect leaders at all levels who will build America better.” She added.
In the 2020 election, Democrats won back control of the White House and Senate, but suffered losses in House races cutting into their majority. On the other hand, Republicans are already looking ahead to the 2022 midterm elections and have expressed confidence in flipping both houses of Congress; Ronna McDaniel, chairman of the Republican National Committee, was successfully re-elected as chairman last week.
Newly elected National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott told Fox News, “Over the next two years, the Democrats are going to try to do a whole lot of things that the public doesn’t want to see. They don’t want to fill (judges to) the Supreme Court. They (voters) don’t want higher taxes and more regulations, and they (voters) don’t want the police to be defunded.”
Scott said, “I think it’s going to help (voters) define them (Democrats) and it’s going to help us win in 2022.”
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