Tom Perez's entry to the DNC race would reshape the field. | Getty Labor Secretary Perez steps up DNC outreach

Labor Secretary Tom Perez is significantly stepping up his outreach to voting members of the Democratic National Committee, speaking to a number of them Monday as his planned announcement about his political future nears, several Democrats told POLITICO.

Perez is weighing whether to run for the soon-to-be-vacant chairmanship of the DNC or enter the Maryland governor's race, and he is now expected to hold a call with DNC members this week to discuss his intentions.


Perez's entry to the DNC race would reshape the field, which is currently made up of Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley, and South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison. The cabinet secretary is seen as being close to President Barack Obama, and a number of voting members have said they would like to see him jump in before they make up their minds.

A progressive and a Latino who served as a major surrogate for Hillary Clinton and landed on her vice presidential short list, he could appeal to major voting blocs in the party if he were to run.

But without hands-on experience at a state or national party, he would likely need to make the case to voting members that he would be ready to handle the operational parts of the job.

While Ellison is regarded as the race's front-runner, the vote is not until late February, and the field of candidates is expected to grow. In addition to Perez, NARAL Pro-Choice America president Ilyse Hogue has been considering a bid, for example.