Biden ‘to pick Jaime Harrison as DNC chair’

South Carolina politician smashed fundraising records to try and beat Lindsey Graham

Joe Biden has picked Jaime Harrison to run the Democratic party, according to reports.

Mr Harrison smashed fundraising records in his unsuccessful attempt to unseat Senator Lindsey Graham in the election last. November.

Now Mr Biden has asked the South Carolina politician to serve as the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, sources told Fox News.

Mr Harrison, 44, is a current DNC associate chair and senior counselor and was the first Black chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party.

He is also a former aide to congressman James Clyburn, who is a top political surrogate of Mr Biden and who helped him win the state’s primary race.

Former DNC chair Donna Brazile, a Fox News contributor, said Harrison was a logical choice to lead the national committee. 

"He knows the DNC and he knows the party structure. He had good ties to the White House,” said former DNC chair Donna Brazile.

Fundraising will be a big part of Mr Harrison’s job as the party goes into the 2022 midterm election races trying to maintain control of the House and Senate.

During his own election race Mr Harrison raised more than $130 million, including a record $57 million, in the third quarter.

But he ended up losing the election by 10 percentage points to the pro-Trump Mr Graham.