“The DNC must do a better job of communicating our message and be a meaningful partner with organizations, candidates and state parties in all 50 states and territories,” Tom Perez said in a statement. | AP Photo DNC rebuilds communication office

The Democratic National Committee is overhauling its communications office in the first public steps of its comprehensive rebuilding project under new chairman Tom Perez.

Xochitl Hinojosa, who worked for Perez on his campaign for the chairmanship, during his tenure as Labor Secretary, and at the Justice Department, will assume the role of communications director. Adrienne Watson, who worked with Hinojosa in the communications office of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign during the 2016 election cycle, will move from the national press secretary position to the deputy communications director job.


While Hinojosa’s role will include overseeing party messaging against President Donald Trump as well as rebuilding the committee’s communications program, Watson will run the office’s day-to-day operations, including the anti-Trump “war room."

Michael Tyler, a former DNC communications staffer who worked with Hinojosa on Perez’s campaign, will serve as the committee's primary spokesman, in the national press secretary role. Tyler was the communications director for Russ Feingold’s 2016 Senate campaign in Wisconsin.

Longtime Democratic strategist John Neffinger, who preceded Hinojosa as communications director, will stay on as a senior adviser, working on special projects.

“The DNC must do a better job of communicating our message and be a meaningful partner with organizations, candidates and state parties in all 50 states and territories,” Perez said in a statement. “We have a lot of work to do, but we’re ready to take on this challenge as we continue to build a strong, diverse team.”

Since assuming the chairmanship in late February, Perez has spent time traveling the country and pushing displays of party unity with Rep. Keith Ellison, who he beat in the vote and then named deputy chair. But he has also been speaking with Democratic leaders from across the country as he assesses the committee’s capacities, vulnerabilities, and opportunities after it was hollowed out in recent years — particularly after the ouster of former chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the summer of 2016.