Moments ago, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was elected to be chair of the Democratic National Committee. Adding this new position to her distinguished resume, Rep. Wasserman Schultz joins President Obama at the helm of the Democratic Party and formalizes her role as a visionary and strategic voice for Democrats across the country.

First elected to the Florida House of Representatives at the age of 26, Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s story is one of perseverance. In that first election, she knocked on more than 25,000 doors, won with 64 percent of the vote, and became the youngest woman ever elected to the Florida House.

After serving in both the Florida House and Senate, Wasserman Schultz was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida’s 20^th Congressional district, and her reputation as a leader and lawmaker only grew.

She was elected by her peers to serve as vice chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, working to communicate Democratic priorities to the public, and also serves as a chief deputy whip, advancing Democrats’ legislative priorities.

Donna Brazile, Interim Chair and Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation, spoke to those qualities:

As I look forward to Debbie’s leadership, I know one thing as sure as sunrise: She will stand her ground. And she won’t back down.

When those Republicans want to cut Medicare and Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, Debbie will stand her ground. And she won’t back down.

When those Republicans try to take the next election by taking the vote away from people of color, women, young people and seniors, Debbie will stand her ground. And she won’t back down.

And when those Republicans refuse to extend unemployment insurance, when they are less concerned about helping Americans earn their paychecks than preventing them from carrying union cards, and when their answer to losing 200,000 jobs is to say “So be it” – Debbie will stand her ground. And she won’t back down. And neither will we Democrats, not this year, not next year, not ever. 

Rep. Wasserman Schultz is a leader and role model, a mother and cancer survivor, and a tireless advocate for values of opportunity, fairness, and equality. Her term as DNC chair begins immediately.

Starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Time today, members of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will vote to elect Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz as the next DNC Chair, and you can watch it happen. In this meeting called by Interim Chair Donna Brazile, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz will be the first woman to be nominated and elected by a sitting president – she is replacing former Governor Tim Kaine, who resigned as chair to run for U.S. Senate in Virginia.

Watch live today, May 4^th, at 3 p.m.: democrats.org/live/may4dncmeeting.

As you may have heard, President Obama has nominated Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to be the next chair of the Democratic Party.

Debbie is going to be a great champion for our party and our President. For more than 20 years, she has stood out as a proven leader, doing all she can to protect Medicare for America's seniors and create good jobs for Florida's workers.

And guided by her experiences battling cancer, teaching at Broward Community College, and raising three young children, she understands the struggles Americans of every background confront each and every day.

Now that she's bringing that energy to Democratic headquarters, she wants to hear from you. The next election will be unlike any we've ever known before, and in order to win, we'll need new and creative approaches. So we're putting together ideas for her about our plans for the future -- and we want to include yours.

Please share your suggestions with our next chair.

There's no denying it: We Democrats have our work cut out for us. Over the next year and a half, we need to re-elect the President, take back the House, and continue to fight for policies that help Americans in their daily lives.

President Obama is right -- Debbie is the right leader for these challenges. She has the sharp mind we need in a chair -- and more importantly, she recognizes good ideas when she sees them.

What issues do you think this party needs to tackle? What will it take for us to win new majorities in Congress? What do we need to do to give President Obama a second term? How can we make an impact in your state?

Take a minute to send us your suggestions now so our new chair can read them on her first day:

http://my.democrats.org/YourThoughts

In a matter of days, members of the Democratic National Committee will meet to consider President Obama's nominee to chair the Democratic Party -- Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

It's an important decision. All of us who care about the future of this country have big challenges to confront in the months ahead. We must re-elect the President, win new majorities in Congress, and fight for change that matters in policy fight after policy fight.

These tests will require new energy and fresh ideas -- and when the new Democratic chair begins, I want to make sure she has access to both in abundance.

That's why I'm turning to you for some original thinking. We want to know what ideas you have for our work in the months ahead.

Take a minute to share your thoughts with our next chair.

I believe we've begun a new era in our politics.

Those who win elections in the future won't just be the candidates who raise the most money or buy the most advertising on TV -- though those things never hurt.

Instead, the political winners of the future will be the innovators. The people who discover ways to bring new voices into the conversation, tap new technologies to reach more voters, and expand their base of support among the American people.

And if we're truly committed to finding new ways of doing things, we know we must look outside Washington.

When the new chair of our Party walks into this office on her first day, I don't want her to hear the same old ideas. I want to present her with the best thinking we can find from a bunch of smart people, particularly those like you outside this building -- initiatives that we can all work on together.

Will you take a minute to offer your suggestions?

http://my.democrats.org/YourThoughts