Secretary of Labor Tom Perez said Thursday he's running to be chair of the Democratic National Committee, arguing the party needs a full-time leader "who can inspire people… and speak to its broad tent."
Perez state party chairs Thursday during a conference call that he was seeking the top post at the DNC, the Washington Times reported – and he posted his intention online.
"Now more than ever, I believe we need a full-time chair who can inspire people, grow our party and speak to its broad tent," Perez wrote. "And we need a chair with the leadership and management experience to protect the progress we’ve made and keep us moving forward."
He joins a field of candidates that includes Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, New Hampshire Democratic Chair Raymond Buckley and South Carolina Chair Jaime Harrison.
The Hill noted Perez is the only one candidate with experience running an organization the size of the DNC, though he hasn't had much experience in "electoral politics."
"He is a guy who comes across very well on TV, he has strong relationships with labor and other folks in the progressive community, and he’s someone who can reach out to all constituency groups in the Democratic Party," one unnamed former DNC aide told The Hill.
"This is a job for a political animal, someone who has no problem getting their hands dirty, getting in fights with the other party."
The election is slated for the DNC’s February winter meeting in Atlanta.