Politics

Jaime Harrison Tapped To Lead The Democratic National Committee: Report

Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Andrew Trunsky Political Reporter
Font Size:

President-elect Joe Biden plans to tap Jaime Harrison to lead the Democratic National Committee, two people aware of his thinking told The New York Times.

Harrison, the former chair of South Carolina’s Democratic Party, proved to be a formidable fundraiser during his 2020 Senate campaign against Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, shattering quarterly records even though he ultimately lost the race by 11 points, the Times reported. He reported raising $57 million in the third quarter of 2020, more than any candidate in history at the time.

His selection comes four years after his failed bid to lead the DNC, when he came up short against Tom Perez, who declined to run for a second term. Harrison also has the backing of House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, an influential Democratic lawmaker and a close Biden ally who was instrumental in his securing the Democratic nomination for president. (RELATED: James Carville Credits Biden’s Success To Jim Clyburn)

House Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn speaks to rally goers during a drive-in rally for Democratic Senate candidate Jaime Harrison on October 17, 2020 in North Charleston, South Carolina. (Cameron Pollack/Getty Images)

“Jaime will ensure all 57 state parties and territories have the funding we need to not only win elections but to also build up the infrastructure we need to organize year-round,” Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb told Politico. “We cannot afford to be a party that parachutes resources in the last minute.”

If tapped, Harrison would be tasked with steering the party — and its House and Senate majorities — through two uncertain election cycles. Democrats hold a slim House majority after Republicans gained 11 seats in November, and have a 50-50 split in the Senate, where they have a tie-breaking vote with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.