The old guard lives to ride another day. Yesterday, the Democratic National Committee elected former Obama administration Labour Secretary, Tom Perez, as the new chair. He defeated five-term Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, who was backed by the progressive wing of the party.

There is a lot to be hopeful for in this result. Minutes after his election Perez nominated, and the DNC confirmed Ellison as his deputy chair, which could go a long way towards uniting a party still bitterly divided over last year’s primary race between hard left Sanders and the establishment candidate, Clinton.

Perez also becomes the first Latino chair of the DNC, and Ellison is a Black Muslim – both of which could help energise the party’s base and promote a civil rights agenda in an era when Trump is simultaneously attacking both Latino immigrants and Muslims.

Muslim national security staffer quit after 8 days in Trump White House

Still, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that it came down to these two candidates in the first place, let alone that they now hold the reigns of the party I’ve belonged to since I first registered to vote at 18. At that time, Nancy Pelosi was the leader of the House Democrats – a post she holds to this day.

I love and greatly admire Nancy Pelosi, America’s first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives. Still, when she was re-elected House Minority Leader last month, I was sorely disappointed. The election of Chuck Schumer, who has represented New York in the House or Senate since 1981 (five years before I was born), similarly made me wonder: where are the young party leaders?

Turns out, they’re in Indiana. South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg threw his hat into the ring last year and emerged as a dark horse candidate that excited many in the grassroots. “I spent Thanksgiving morning in a deer blind with my boyfriend’s father,” he joked during a CNN debate last week. “How’s that for a 2017 sentence?”

Frankly, it’s a great 2017 sentence, and one we need to hear more of. A plain talking, openly gay Army veteran and Millennial (he was born in 1982, the year after Schumer entered Congress), he hails from Vice President Mike Pence’s home state can clearly connect to Rust Belt voters, something the party desperately needs following our crushing defeat in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.

Also running was 44-year-old Jehmu Greene, the daughter of Liberian immigrants and former president of Rock the Vote, a group that works to register young voters. Greene has a unique skillset that can bring the millions who marched not only in last month’s Women’s March but who continue to demonstrate against Trump into the Democratic fold. She recognises a need to ensure the party is “a welcoming home to them,” which means adjusting course in a more progressive path than the Perez, Pelosi, or Schumer may be comfortable with.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

She is passionate and adamant about defending our freedoms and unafraid to speak truth to power, a particularly urgent need in the era of Donald Trump. “The Democratic Party has to be that last line of defence for our constitution and this country. We don’t have the luxury to take a backseat as this man is arrogantly marching us towards fascism,” she said in last week’s debate.

We had two remarkable, diverse, gifted candidates to lead the party forward and bring fresh talent to the forefront of Democratic politics. Instead, we again opted for more of the same – and that same ain’t working so well. I was a vehement supporter of Clinton in the primary and the general, but even I can recognise that it’s time for a new direction.

New leaders cannot possibly rise when the old leaders refuse to step aside. Buttigieg and Greene are the future of the Democratic Party and the future of America, if only we let them and others like them lead.