The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is formalizing a new position for a top political aide to Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison (D), a move that comes as the party tries to bring progressives into the fold.

Ellison lost a contentious bid for DNC chairman to former Obama administration Labor Secretary Tom Perez in February. Since then, he's been named deputy chairman, while Ellison aide Will Hailer has acted as one of a small number of DNC advisers helping to chart the party's path forward.

But the formalization of Hailer's role shows another overture by Perez toward the progressive wing that backed Ellison's leadership bid and Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE's (I-Vt.) 2016 presidential run.

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Hailer's appointment to serve as a senior adviser to the DNC comes alongside four other appointments.

Amanda Brown Lierman, a former Obama administration official and political organizer, will serve as the political and organizing director; Laura Chambers, the former COO of the Peace Corps, will take over the same position with the DNC; Sam Cornale, a longtime Perez aide who steered his bid to lead the party, will be the party's chief of staff; and Emily Mellencamp Smith, an experienced Democratic Senate fundraiser, will become the party's finance director.

“Just as I have committed to rebuilding our party from the ground up, I’m also deeply dedicated to putting together the best team possible to lead our party,” Perez said in a statement.

"The new additions to our leadership will play an essential role in reaching our goal of electing Democrats up and down the ballot, from the school board to the Senate."

The DNC has raced to build out its organizing apparatus since Perez's chairman victory.

While Democrats have been motivated by an outpouring of motivation from their base in response to President Trump's administration, the party was significantly out-raised by the Republican National Committee in the first fundraising quarter of 2017.