Kimberly Ellis looking to change the Face of Party Leadership
weekend in Sacramento, Calif. Democrats will meet to elect the next chair of the largest state Democratic Party in the country. Kimberly Ellis, is running and if elected would be the first African American and only third women to hold this powerful position.
Ellis, along with two other candidates, Eric C. Bauman and Lenore Albert-Sheridan will make their final case this weekend to party members on who should lead their state party and provide the leadership needed to engage and energize all California Democrats, from grassroots activists to elected leaders and donors.
Leading into the vote, Ellis has pick up major endorsements including Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Controller Betty Yee, and two prominent Black women state legislators Senator Holly J. Mitchell and Assemblywoman Dr. Shirley Weber.
In addition, Black Women Organized for Political Action, a California advocacy organization that works to educate, train and engage Black women in the political process, members are working to help Kimberly make history.
Saturday’s vote comes at a time when Democrats are working to rebuild the party and develop a pathway forward in Washington and in the states after a disappointing 2016 election cycle.
It also comes at a time where some Black leaders are questioning the party leadership’s commitment to invest in Black leadership and recognize the importance of Black engagement – more specifically the pivotal role that Black women continue to have as the party’s most loyal voting bloc.
The Democratic National Committee has never elected a Black woman as chair although Donna Bazile has served twice as interim chair. This past February the DNC elected its new leadership and Louisiana State Senator Karen Carter Peterson was elected vice chair making her the only Black woman currently serving in national leadership.
There have only been a few Black women who have served as Chairs of Democratic State Parties. Currently there are two Black women State Party Chairs, Karen Carter Peterson in Louisiana and Anita Bonds from Washington, D,C.
Ellis is seeking to create a more inclusive democracy and redefine what it means to be a Democrat. During her career, Kimberly Ellis has worked to reshape California politics and help to train women across the state to run for office as the first Black woman Executive Director of an Emerge America affiliate. Under her leadership Ellis grew the organization and more than half of Emerge California’s alumnae currently serve in elected or appointed office.
Ellis is looking to help change the face of leadership in the party. Senator Holly Mitchell in her endorsement said, “We have an opportunity to elect a strong and inspirational Black woman who is eminently qualified to lead the California Democratic Party into the 21st Century. As a party, it’s time for us to do some tough soul search around our innate bias in what leadership looks like and sounds like.”