While stunned Democrats continue to reel from Donald Trump's upset victory, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is pushing for Rep. Keith Ellison from Minnesota to take over as party chairman.
Sanders, who lost his bid for the party's nomination to Hillary Clinton, sent out an email to his supporters late Thursday asking them to join him in his bid to have Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, take the reins of the party, CNN reports.
Sanders, a registered independent who aligns himself with the Democrats, said Ellison was qualified to take on "the political establishment and billionaire class." He noted Ellison, who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has the experience and perspective to lead the "fight against Trump."
"I'm sure a lot of you have some feelings about the Democratic National Committee," Sanders said in his email. "The truth is that it is an important entity to build, support, and maintain if we are to have the chance to organize and win in the coming elections while Trump is president."
The cable news network also reports that former DNC Chairman Howard Dean, who served as party chairman from 2005-2009, is seeking the position again.
Meanwhile, Sanders' call for Ellison to assume the top DNC spot comes after he had been at odds with Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who had served as party chairwoman throughout the primaries.
The Hill notes Wasserman Schultz resigned after WikiLeaks released emails revealing she had favored Clinton.
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