The Democratic Party needs to be transformed from the ground up. New leadership without ties or obligations to Wall Street or polluter interests is needed. Climate hawk Rep. Keith Ellison, an early Bernie Sanders supporter and the first Muslim elected to Congress, is the right choice.

Rep. Ellison has been endorsed by Sen. Sanders for the job, and has the experience, principles, and organizational skills to lead the Democratic Party in opposition to the Trump-Pence-McConnell-Ryan-Roberts administration. He is the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a member of the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus, and the founder of the Congressional Consumer Justice Caucus.

Democratic Party leaders leading the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline such as Tulsi Gabbard, former DNC vice chair, and Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and former co-chair of the Democratic National Committee Youth Council, should also be considered for leadership positions.

When elected, Rep. Ellison must make rebuilding the Democratic Party in all fifty states to represent and defend the working people of this nation of all colors and creeds his full-time priority.