Perez wins chairmanship of DNC in close vote on second ballot. Moves to make Ellison deputy chair

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Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Saturday February 25, 2017 · 12:25 PM PST

2017/02/25 · 12:25

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 29: U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez delivers remarks during a public meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission at the United States Treasury on June 29, 2016 in Washington, DC. The agenda focused on financial education and investment advice, as well as the intersection of financial education and legal aid. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images) — Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez

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On the second ballot Saturday afternoon, former Labor Secretary Tom Perez narrowly won the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee over Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison at the organization’s winter meeting in Atlanta. Perez took the podium to move that Ellison be made deputy chair of the DNC. No “nays” could be heard from delegates during the voice vote.

Here was the tally of the 435 delegates who cast ballots:

Tom Perez……………………..235
Keith Ellison…………………..200

After the vote, a motion to make Perez chairman by acclamation.

Congrats to @TomPerez, new #DNCChair! The Hillary/Obama coalition IS the Democratic Party. It INCLUDES Ellison and millions of progressives. pic.twitter.com/8SCGo69wuN
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) February 25, 2017

Despite the efforts of the other nine candidates who sought the office, the only ones anybody gave a chance to were Ellison and Perez. On issues related to the DNC’s tasks, the two men’s views were extremely close. But their campaigns for the post were widely viewed by most observers as a contest between the more centrist establishment wing of the party represented by Perez and the liberal wing represented by Ellison. But there was a fair amount of cross-over voting.

The question now is how successful Perez and Ellison will be at accomplishing what large numbers of activist Democrats believe is key to defeating Pr*sident Trump, Trumpism and Republicans, in general—injecting new life into state parties that have been weakened by Republicans making huge gains in state legislatures and governorships over the past decade.

Congrats Tom Perez and Family! Dems Unite. pic.twitter.com/Z66LdindZI
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) February 25, 2017

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Perez wins chairmanship of DNC in close vote on second ballot. Moves to make Ellison deputy chair

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