DGA Chairman Dannel Malloy, pictured, and Jay Inslee describe how they will evaluate the candidates for DNC chair. | Getty Democratic governors call for full-time DNC chair

The Democratic Governors Association is laying out the priorities it would like to see from the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

In an open letter Tuesday, DGA Chairman Dannel Malloy of Connecticut and DGA Vice Chairman Jay Inslee of Washington tick off the five points governors are using to evaluate the candidates for DNC chair.


"The long-term success of the Democratic Party depends on diversifying beyond a Washington-centric view and focusing on rebuilding the party from the local level up, especially as we approach two cycles critical for the future of redistricting," Malloy and Inslee write in the letter, obtained first by POLITICO.

The governors list the five points they want to see from a DNC chair: a commitment to investing resources in gubernatorial and legislative races over the next two cycles; a commitment to investing and organizing in states with competitive and legislative races; a commitment to serve as a full-time chair, and "working with Democratic governors and other state policy leaders on advancing policies that grow our economy and strengthen the middle class."

The focus on resources reflects the broad desire among Democrats at every level for more financial and organizational support from the national committee.

Thus far, only a few governors have weighed in on the DNC chair race. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is backing home-state Rep. Keith Ellison and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan supports her state party chair, Ray Buckley.

Ellison recently announced that he would step down from his House seat if elected chair, a move meant to satisfy skeptical DNC members who have argued that the next chair shouldn't have another job.

South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison is also running for the chairmanship, with more candidates expected to jump into the race.