Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.) told labor leaders in private that he would step down from his House seat if he wins his bid to head the Democratic National Committee.
Ellison had pushed against calls for the past month to leave Congress should he become the next DNC chair, boasting that his work ethic would allow him to manage both jobs, but he reversed course during a closed-door meeting of AFL-CIO officials on Nov. 22, the Washington Times reported Tuesday.
Former DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has faced criticism from Democrats who in part blame her decision to remain in Congress while at the same time attempting to party-build for the party's staggering losses in November. Critics have said maintaining the two positions simultaneously presents conflicts of interest.
Ellison had earlier defended Wasserman Schultz's duel roles, arguing her divided attention was not to blame for depressed voter turnout that ultimately cost Hillary Clinton the election.
Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, won his reelection campaign in November. He has recently come under fire for complaining to a private audience that Israel has a stranglehold on U.S. foreign policy.
The Anti-Defamation League, which had previously endorsed Ellison to head the DNC, pulled its backing last week after learning of what the group called "disturbing and disqualifying" remarks.
New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Raymond Buckley and South Carolina Democratic Party chair Jaime Harrison are also campaigning to lead the DNC. Both men have said that the head of the DNC should consider the job a full-time position, particularly with the incoming Republican administration set to come into power.