Dems consider co-chairs to lead DNC

Some Democrats are pushing candidates for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairmanship to consider teaming up to split duties atop the national party.

In an email to DNC members on Monday, Raymond Buckley, New Hampshire party chairman, announced that he is considering a run for DNC chair.

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In that letter, Buckley said he had received encouragement from some to “consider partnering with one of the other candidates,” an arrangement that was last in place in 1995, when Bill ClintonWilliam (Bill) Jefferson ClintonWill the ‘law and order’ president pardon Roger Stone? Five ways America would take a hard left under Joe Biden The sad spectacle of Trump’s enablers MORE was president.

Under that setup, one candidate would be the “face” of the party, “deeply involved in messaging and representing the party across the country” as the primary spokesperson, Buckley said in his letter.

The other would be the “nuts and bolts” chairperson, responsible for “running the day to day operations of the party, provide support for state parties and rebuilding our grassroots nationwide.”

“Both Chairs would work as a team, participate in fundraising and oversee the general operation of the party,” Buckley wrote. “It would take two individuals with the ability to work in the model of team leadership.”

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) is the early front-runner to be the next party chairman, already securing scores of endorsements from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Former Chairman Howard Dean has also entered the race, along with Jaime Harrison, the South Carolina party chairman. 

Many Democrats would like to see a full-time chairperson, believing that the party’s massive rebuilding project deserves the full attention of whoever becomes the next leader. 

In the mid-’90s under Clinton, former Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.) acted as party spokesman, while Donald Fowler, the former party chairman from South Carolina, ran the operations.

“The jobs of the Chair as set out are pretty huge,” DNC member Glen Maxey told The Hill. “Five people can’t possibly do everything expected of a national chair. So, yes, I think having co-chairs might be a great solution. It’s well worth the conversation.”

More than 400 DNC members will vote on the next chairperson at the party’s winter meeting in Atlanta beginning on Feb. 23.