The Democratic National Committee will elect a new chairman on Feb. 1, the party announced Monday, as it reels from President-Elect Donal Trump’s victory earlier this month.
That includes Wisconsin State Party Chair Ben Wikler, who is set to announce a decision right after Thanksgiving, a person with knowledge of his thinking said.
The timeline will be more compressed than the last time the party elected a new chair after losing the White House, in 2017, when the election was held on Feb. 25.
The Feb. 1 date will allow Democrats to have a new chair in place shortly after Trump’s Inauguration on Jan. 20 and at the start of his administration.
But when Republicans are in power, the DNC chair election becomes a wide open contest for a range of candidates to put forth competing visions for the party and the role of the chair.
Persons:
Donal Trump’s, Martin O’Malley, Ken Martin —, Ben Wikler, Joe Biden, ”, Jaime Harrison, “, ” Harrison
Organizations:
Democratic National, DNC, Maryland Gov, Minnesota Democratic, Wisconsin, White, Trump Administration, Republican Party
Locations:
National Harbor , Maryland, Washington, Minnesota