A top political aide to Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.) has been picked for a new senior adviser role at the Democratic National Committee.
Will Hailer has been one of a small number of DNC advisers helping plan the Democratic Party's future, but the committee is now formalizing his position as a senior adviser, the Hill reported Friday.
Ellison was named the DNC's deputy chair in February after losing a bid for committee chair to former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, who served during the Obama administration. Hailer's high-level appointment to the DNC is another indication that Perez is reaching out to the party's progressive wing, which backed Ellison's leadership bid.
The DNC is also bringing on more new people for senior roles, including former Obama administration official Amanda Brown Lierman, who will serve as political and organizing director; longtime Democratic Senate fundraiser Emily Mellencamp Smith, who will serve as finance director; Perez aide Sam Cornale, who will serve as chief of staff; and former Peace Corps COO Laura Chambers, who will serve in the same role.
Perez released a statement on the recent hires.
"Just as I have committed to rebuilding our party from the ground up, I'm also deeply dedicated to putting together the best team possible to lead our party," Perez said. "The new additions to our leadership will play an essential role in reaching our goal of electing Democrats up and down the ballot, from the school board to the Senate."
One issue the new additions may be asked to address is fundraising; the Republican National Committee raised far more money than the DNC in the first fundraising quarter of 2017, the Hill noted.