With the nomination in her grasp, Hillary Clinton is leaving her mark on the Democratic National Committee and diminishing Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s role.
The Clinton campaign appointed Brandon Davis, the current national political director for the Service Employees International Union, to serve as the general election chief of staff for the Democratic Party.
Davis will coordinate between the campaign and the DNC. While Wasserman Schultz will likely remain chairwoman at least through the convention, this signals a shift away from her.
Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook brought Davis into the DNC offices on Thursday to introduce him to the party staff and Wasserman Schultz.
“We have a lot of work to do over the next five months to make sure that Donald Trump does not become president,” Mook said as he introduced Davis, according to a CNN report. “With so much at stake in this election, we could not ask for a better partner in that mission than the team here.”
Bernie Sanders has advocated Wasserman Schultz’s ouster. But the DNC notes that transitions are normal once there is a presidential nominee. For example, in 2008, a trusted Obama aide, Paul Tewes, took over the DNC.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Sanders said that in order for him to endorse Clinton in the general election, she would have to be willing to make significant changes within the DNC, including replacing the party leadership. Clinton has yet to say whether she will agree to his terms.
