Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison is among those competing for the top DNC spot. | Getty Rust Belt Democrats summon DNC hopefuls for Midwestern audition

Top Democratic officials in four Rust Belt states that voted for Donald Trump earlier this month have invited the candidates for the Democratic National Committee chairmanship to formally share their thoughts on how the party can compete there at a meeting next month.

A letter obtained by POLITICO and circulated by officials with the Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania Democratic parties on Tuesday evening invites the candidates to the Ohio group’s executive committee meeting on Dec. 10.


“As Chairs and Vice Chairs of states in the industrial Midwest — traditional bellwether or ‘red’ states — we are particularly concerned to hear the ideas and plans you and other candidates have to help us turn this critical region blue again. How will you continue to energize the coalition that has performed so well to elect Democrats at times, while also making inroads in the areas where President-Elect Trump did so well across our states? We are also eager to share our ideas,” the letter reads.

“Bottom line: We’d be honored to have you come to our region to hear directly from Democrats, present your plans and ideas, and engage our grassroots activists who are eager to be part of the conversation."

If any of the candidates accept, the letter notes, the hosts will invite all DNC members to attend.

After Hillary Clinton’s shocking loss nationwide, and in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — in addition to the more expected defeats in states like Indiana, Iowa and Ohio — party leaders have been trying to determine their candidates’ path forward in the region. And the question of how to balance appealing to Trump supporters and the coalitions that backed Barack Obama twice is a central one as Democrats also search for a replacement for interim DNC chairwoman Donna Brazile.

While DNC members will not vote on a new chairperson until late February, four Democrats have already thrown their hats into the ring: Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, former Vermont governor and DNC chairman Howard Dean, South Carolina Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison, and New Hampshire Democratic Party chairman Ray Buckley, who is also a vice-chairman of the DNC.

Other prominent Democrats, including NARAL chief Ilyse Hogue and Labor Secretary Tom Perez, are also weighing bids of their own.

The signatories to Tuesday night’s invitation were Indiana Chair John Zody and Vice-Chair Cordelia Lewis Black, Michigan Chair Brandon Dillon and Vice Chair Nancy Quarles, Ohio Chair David Pepper and Vice Chair Rhine McLin, and Pennsylvania Chair Marcel Groen.