According to NBC News, Ellison, the DNC chair pick of grassroots voters and liberals who rallied behind former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, urged the party to unite under Perez’s lead.
“We don’t have the luxury, folks, to walk out of this room divided,” Ellison said. “We don’t have that luxury, and I just want to say to you that it’s my honor to serve this party under Chairman Perez.”
Perez also appointed Ellison to be deputy chairman. However, the call to action and deputy position didn’t stop Ellison supporters from airing resentment against establishment Democrats.
“If you polled Democrats outside of this room, Keith would win,” Jeff Weaver, Sanders’s campaign manager for his 2016 presidential bid, told the Washington Post. “Keith’s support is from the people on the street.”
As chairman, Perez will face the challenge of rebuilding the party after a failed presidential election and losses in the House and the Senate. But grassroots progressives disagree with the new leadership and his ability to bring about the change they’re calling for, expressing the disconnect on Twitter with the hashtag #DemExit.
THIS IS A CLEAR REPRESENTATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY pic.twitter.com/qQ29khAH29
— #FREEJulianAssangeNOW (@scoutstandup) February 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheRealTonyH1/status/835607237267718144
I don’t want to hear ANYTHING about “unity” or “resisting Trump” EVER AGAIN. Resisting Trump would’ve been rejecting Perez. #DemExit
— Becky Meyer (@electricfire89) February 25, 2017
Think about the number of chances dems have had to offer an olive branch to Bernie supporters. They’ve rejected every. single. one. #demexit
— beejakk (@beejakk) February 25, 2017
Yet Again, @TheDemocrats Have Chosen 4 More Years of Winter. @TomPerez has been Anointed #DNCChair by Elite DNC Representatives.👌 #demexit pic.twitter.com/sfTb5774PU
— Unify Labor (@unifylabor) February 25, 2017
Even President Donald Trump congratulated Perez on Twitter, appearing to acknowledge the doubt surrounding the new chairman’s ability to unite the party before the next mid-term and presidential elections.
Congratulations to Thomas Perez, who has just been named Chairman of the DNC. I could not be happier for him, or for the Republican Party!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017
Sanders congratulated Perez on the election, though he continued to stress the need for Democrats to change.
I congratulate Tom Perez on his election as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and look forward to working with him.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 25, 2017
It’s imperative Tom understands that the same-old, same-old isn’t working and that we must bring in working and young people in a new way.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 25, 2017
The Democratic Party must make clear it will stand up to the 1% and lead in the fight for social, racial, economic and environmental justice
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 25, 2017
H/T NBC News
