The ballot, sent Wednesday to members of the AFL-CIO's Executive Committee, provided three options: to endorse Rep. Keith Ellison; to abstain; or to "make no endorsement at this time." | Getty Firefighters union chief calls AFL-CIO ballot for DNC chair 'totalitarian'

A top union leader lashed out at AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka for sending out an endorsement ballot for chair of the Democratic National Committee that listed the name of only one candidate.

"A single name on the ballot more resembles an attempt at a coronation in a totalitarian regime rather than an election within the House of Labor," Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, wrote in an email to Trumka sent late Wednesday.


The ballot, sent Wednesday to members of the AFL-CIO's Executive Committee, provided three options: to endorse Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.); to abstain; or to "make no endorsement at this time." Omitted were South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison; New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley; and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, all declared candidates.

Also absent were two prospective candidates reportedly favored by the White House: Labor Secretary Tom Perez and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

The voting began Nov. 30 and continues until Dec. 6. The DNC will choose its new chair at its winter meeting in Atlanta, Feb. 23-26.

Schaitberger, whose union lies at the more conservative end of the labor movement, wrote that Trumka's attempt to "pre-ordain the result by including only a single candidate on the ballot is contemptible."

Ellison has been endorsed by a number of top labor groups. In a memo to the Executive Board that POLITICO reported on Wednesday, Trumka signaled a clear preference for Ellison, citing those endorsements and noting that a "strong majority" favored Ellison in a previous straw poll of the board's Political Committee.

"Your memo notes that both New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley and South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison took time out of their busy schedules on very short notice ... to attend and address the Political Committee," Schaitberger wrote. "Yet, you failed to give either Mr. Buckley or Mr. Harrison the common courtesy of a place on the ballot because of your own personal bias for Representative Ellison."

Schaitberger also noted that Trumka acknowledged that other potential DNC candidates had contacted him and Executive Council members, including "our very good friend Secretary Tom Perez," to talk about the race. Perez has been mulling running for either DNC chair or Maryland governor.

"This causes me great concern that those who may call into question the integrity of our labor movement will now have more ammunition to use against us when we are in the trenches," Schaitberger wrote, "fighting to protect the hard won gains our members have earned through the years."

Marianne LeVine contributed to this report.

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