Lavora Barnes was chosen to lead the Michigan Democratic Party as chair Saturday, taking over for Brandon Dillon to lead party operations ahead of the 2020 election.

Barnes, of Ann Arbor, was serving as the party’s chief operating officer and was previously Oakland County’s deputy Clerk. She also served as the state director for former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

Barnes was the favorite going into the race, securing endorsements from several key factions of Democratic delegates ahead of the convention.

“The vast majority of us made the decision long before today that we are going to strengthen, improve, and add even more voices, voters, innovation, and ideas to the movement we are building together," Barnes said. "Movements go forward, not backward, and this Michigan Democratic Party is only going in one direction: full-steam ahead.”

Dillon opted not to run for re-election to his position after overseeing the 2016 and 2018 elections.

Democrats in Michigan suffered a blow during Dillon’s first term when Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly lost to President Donald Trump, marking the first time Republicans had won the state’s electoral votes since 1988. Republicans also kept their majority in the state House in the 2016 elections.

The party was more successful in the 2018 cycle, with Democratic candidates winning the offices of governor, secretary of state and attorney general and flipping two Congressional seats.

At least 2,850 delegates were at Saturday’s convention to cast ballots, according to party officials. The mood was celebratory, but cautious at the convention as delegates and elected officials praised electoral gains in 2018 while also urging party activists to stay focused ahead of 2020.

“We cannot take 2020 for granted, so Debbie Downer is here for the next 2 years to remind you that we have a lot of work ahead, and we’ve got to deliver for the working men and women of the state of Michigan," said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn.

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, who’s up for election in 2020, said Democrats were successful in 2018 “because we were united,” and encouraged delegates to keep energy up.

“We have to win and we have to be able to compete in all 83 counties in Michigan,” he said.

Rep. Brenda Lawrence said in 2020, Democrats need more than a blue wave: “We need a tsunami,” she said. She said she believed it was possible, and said Michigan Democrats would lead the charge.

“Just like they blamed us for Donald Trump, they’re going to celebrate us in 2020,” she said.

Both state parties in Michigan will have new leadership ahead of the next election. Michigan Republican Party chair Ron Weiser is also stepping down, and state Rep. Laura Cox and Gina Barr are currently running to take Weiser’s place.

The Michigan Republican Party convention is scheduled for Feb. 22 and 23.