Newly elected Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez gives a victory speech during the general session of the DNC winter meeting in Atlanta, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Perez picked runner-up Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn, to be deputy chairman. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)
ATLANTA (AP) — Newly elected Democratic Party Chairman Tom Perez says he wants to bring a culture change to his party as it tries to rebuild in the era of Donald Trump.
But many liberal activist groups aren’t quite ready to embrace Perez. They preferred his opponent, Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison.
Perez defeated Ellison in a competitive race that took two rounds of voting Saturday. The former labor secretary under President Barack Obama then tapped Ellison to serve as deputy chairman.
The two men are urging their supporters to help build a unified party and met reporters together for a news conference.
But some groups that had back Ellison say the outcome is “disappointing” and a “missed opportunity” for the party.
Perez says he’ll work to get all Democrats and like-minded groups together.
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