The contest for DNC chair will affect the direction of the party for the next two to four years. I have met and like Keith Ellison but I do not want him to be DNC chair and I am encouraged that Tom Perez is getting into this race. Ellison would be the wrong choice for DNC chair in my opinion and this opinion is shared by others
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/keith-ellison-democratic-dnc-232613
One reason is that the shadow of the contentious presidential primary continues to hang over the party, and some DNC members view the Minnesota congressman as part of the faction that delivered a mortal wound to Clinton, despite his best efforts to convince them otherwise.
“Ellison is not the front-runner, Ellison has no chance at all,” said Tennessee committeeman William Owen, giving voice to that view. “I’m a Hillary person. Bill Clinton said, 'I’ll be with you till the last dog dies,' and I’m the last dog. I will not vote for Keith Ellison, I will not vote for a Bernie person. I think they cost Hillary the election, and now they’re going to live with Donald Trump. Donald Trump asks, 'What do you have to lose?’ Nothing, except life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
California committeewoman Susie Shannon’s take on Ellison, however, is more representative of the ascendant progressive wing’s view.
Ellison and a couple of the other leading contenders (including perhaps Tom Perez) are speaking to the Texas Democratic Party SDEC meeting on Saturday.
http://juanitajean.com/heads-up-to-texas-friends/
All three of the announced candidates for new Democratic National Committee Chair will be in Austin this Saturday at 1:30 at the State Democratic Executive Committee meeting to speak. The meeting is open to the public and while questions and speeches from the floor are not allowed (or we’d be there for a month), you will be able to meet the candidates and hear them speak. Most Texas Democratic National Committee members will also be there. They are the ones who vote on the new chair and this is your opportunity to lobby them for your favorite candidate.
Saturday, December 17th at the Sheraton (701 E. 11th) at 1:30. Announced candidates: Keith Ellison, Jaime Harrison, and Raymond Buckley
Texas has a good number of members on the DNC and so this could be an interesting meeting.