Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s primary challenger picked up more support Friday from a key liberal group backing Bernie Sanders.
Democracy for America — a group originally founded by former DNC Chairman Howard Dean — endorsed Tim Canova, citing Wasserman Schultz’s support of President Barack Obama’s Pacific trade deal as part of its decision.
“From her vote in support of fast track authority for the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership to her unabashed protection of a payday lending industry that makes billions off the back struggling working families, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has aligned herself with the wealthy interests who are making income inequality worse in our country,” DFA Chairman Jim Dean said in a statement.
The endorsement comes at a tumultuous time for Wasserman Schultz, after Democratic senators began mulling whether she should be removed as party chairwoman. The DFA support for ousting a sitting Democratic National Committee chair is just the latest in the internal battle inside the Democratic Party, touched off by the split between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Sanders himself endorsed Canova a week ago, a rare move for a candidate seeking the Democratic party’s nomination. Sanders opened his vaunted digital fundraising operation to Canova and helped him raise $250,000 this week — contributing to a $1 million haul, a sizable amount for any House challenger.
The DFA has endorsed Sanders over Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary.