WASHINGTON -- Rep. Keith Ellison remained silent throughout Thursday and Friday morning on a potential bid to run the Democratic National Committee in light of unexpected and large losses in the presidential and Senate races across the country.
Ellison's staff postponed an interview on Thursday saying the newly re-elected sixth term congressman was spending time with family.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told the Associated Press on Thursday that he favored Ellison's leadership of the fundraising and political arm of the party, which will need to regroup after the 2016 elections. Politico reported Friday that Sen. Chuck Schumer -- assumed to be Senate Minority Leader next year -- backs Ellison for the job.
Ellison, co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, is a prolific fundraiser for the party and has crafted get out the vote operations for other progressive candidates across the country.
Though he is in a reliably liberal seat representing Minneapolis, Ellison likes to say he "runs like he is behind" and helps people get to the polls and routinely goes door to door. He won his sixth term by more than 70 percent of the vote on Tuesday.
He is expected to make an annoncement on Monday. Former DNC Chair Howard Dean's name is also being floated to run the organization. Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz abruptly resigned from the chair ahead of the Democratic National Convention after e-mail leaks showed the organization strongly favored Hillary Clinton to win the nomination over Sanders.
Ellison was an early Sanders supporter. He endorsed Clinton after Sanders dropped out.
