Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jaime Harrison reflected on his time leading the party, saying he felt as though he was taken for granted during his tenure.
“I was seen as somebody to just rubber stamp and not to actually have a seat at the table to influence certain things,” Harrison told The Washington Post during the South Carolina Democratic Party’s annual convention.
“And that has to change,” he added.
Harrison rose among the political ranks after serving as a staffer for Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.). The South Carolina native served one term at the helm of the Democratic Party — from January 2021 to February 2025 — and said from an internal perspective, operations need to shift.
“We can’t just be nice ornaments,” Harrison said, referring to other Black leaders. “We actually have to have a substantive and real role in terms of directing this party and moving this party forward.”
The former chair said at times his ideas were cast aside, and concerns were ignored, the Post reported.
As a whole, Democrats are still working to recover from significant losses in November, including the presidential election. Former Vice President Harris, who conceded the general election to President Trump, struggled to gain the attention of younger male voters, minorities and less engaged voters, polling shows.
In December, Harrison encouraged party leaders not to abandon “identity politics” and continued to stress the importance of Black voters.
“When I wake up in the morning, when I look in the mirror, when I step out the door, I can’t rub this off. This is who I am,” he said, motioning around his face, The Associated Press reported. “This is how the world perceives me.”
“That is my identity. And it is not politics. It is my life. And the people that I need in the party, that I need to stand up for me, have to recognize that,” Harrison added, per the outlet. “You cannot run away from that.”