Would Howard Dean bring new vision for Democrats in a DNC chair bid?
The former Vermont governor and DNC chair says he's back 鈥� and plans to organize Democrats nationwide, while focusing on the young. Win or lose, the DNC election may be the first step toward addressing the party's identity crisis.
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean speaks during the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July. In the wake of Donald Trump鈥檚 victory in Tuesday鈥檚 election, Mr. Dean is announcing a bid to head up the Democratic Party, a post he held during the Bush administration.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP/File
Howard Dean is back. After the Democrats鈥� surprise loss at every level of government on Tuesday night, he wants to reorganize the Democratic Party 鈥� and re-energize the base.
The former governor of Vermont, who ran the Democratic National Committee between 2005 and 2009 after losing his primary bid for the presidency in 2004, announced Thursday that he plans to run for re-election. Governor Dean is one of many calling for new Democratic leadership as the party works to understand what went wrong for Hillary Clinton鈥檚 campaign and grapples with how it can move forward. Appealing to Millennials is also a core part of his platform.
Democrats seem to agree that change is necessary. But Dean may not be the face that they want to put on their rebranding.聽Though he was a core member of the progressive movement during the early 2000s, Dean may now be seen as too much of an 鈥渆stablishment鈥� candidate. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) of Vermont, whose primary campaign energized many Democrats, has (D) of Minnesota, who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Representative Ellison will fight against "the political establishment and billionaire class," Sanders wrote in an email to supporters, adding,聽"his experience and perspective would be key to leading the fight against Trump."
The DNC is in charge of the operations of the Democratic Party. It aims to by promoting the party鈥檚 platform, raising money for campaigns, and hiring staff for field operations.
But this election cycle the DNC has been in turmoil since the primaries. Hacked emails suggested that former chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz had discussed ways to undermine Senator Sanders鈥� candidacy and support former Secretary Clinton, leading to her resignation just after the party's Philadelphia convention in July. Interim chair Donna Brazile, a long-time Democratic operative, made headlines after another round of hacks indicated that she had shared debate questions with the Clinton campaign聽while an on-air commentator for CNN.
For many voters, this kind of behavior is representative of an 鈥渆stablishment鈥� they dislike. Sanders, who ran as an 鈥渙utsider鈥� focused on working people, garnered 43 percent of votes in the Democratic primary. Donald Trump rode anti-establishment rhetoric 鈥� notably the slogan 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� 鈥� to victory, even though 60 percent of voters told exit pollsters they didn鈥檛 believe he was qualified to be president.
As the search for a new DNC chair begins, then, finding a candidate from outside the 鈥渆stablishment鈥� is likely to be a priority. Without a Democratic president in the White House, open elections will decide the party鈥檚 next leader.聽
It鈥檚 an opportunity for Democrats to shift direction, both symbolically and practically. And they鈥檙e looking in the direction of Sanders-style populism as the answer to Trump. After Clinton鈥檚 loss, some suggested that Sanders by rallying working-class voters alongside Millennials.
Sanders had a huge base of grass-roots supporters who contributed to his campaign. They鈥檒l be there for Democrats 鈥渋f there鈥檚 a party to believe in,鈥� he told The Washington Post.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to need a DNC that is not just a money collector and employment agency for consultants and pollsters. They have to be advocates, and not just conduits. The DNC should be both ,鈥� said Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D) of Arizona, echoing Sanders, in an interview with the Post.
Dean shares many of these ideas and values.
鈥淚 intend to go coast to coast organizing every kid in this country who believes in the future and tell them that they have a responsibility and and they better get involved now,鈥� he told Bloomberg.
At a breakfast sponsored by 海角大神 in 2011, he blasted the Washington 鈥渋nsiders鈥� at the top of the Obama administration for treating progressives 鈥� and ordinary Americans 鈥� with 鈥渃ontempt.鈥澛�
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 treat people like you know everything and they don鈥檛,鈥� he said.
Most of the progressive movement, historically Dean鈥檚 core constituency, appears to be backing Representative Ellison, however. Ellison will announce whether he is running for DNC chair on Monday, but choosing him is seen as a clear anti-Trump statement (particularly because Ellison is Muslim). Dean is not exactly the face of diversity, and has ties to the Democratic establishment.
Ultimately, Dean says, it doesn鈥檛 matter who wins. He and Sanders agree that the role of the new party chair is the same regardless: to forge a new vision for the country that Americans can believe in, and win elections for Democrats.
鈥淭his is an issue of getting the job done. We need to win,鈥� Dean told Bloomberg.
Reorganizing the party now could have substantial influence on the outcome of future elections. Some credit the Republican National Committee, which , with helping Mr. Trump to victory.