DNC CEO leaves group after less than a year: report

The CEO of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is leaving the organization after less than a year, NBC News reported Monday.

Jess O’Connell, a longtime Democratic operative, is leaving for personal reasons after joining the group in May, one DNC official told NBC, but O’Donnell didn’t give a specific reason for her departure in an email to DNC staffers Monday.

The DNC has struggled in its fundraising in the past year, while Republicans raked in the cash throughout 2017.

“Rebuilding the party will take time. While it isn’t an easy task, we developed a strategy, we implemented it, and we won races up and down the ballot in 2017,” O’Connell said in a statement to NBC.

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“While I’ve made the decision to pass the baton, our work remains far from over and under Tom PerezThomas Edward PerezClinton’s top five vice presidential picks Government social programs: Triumph of hope over evidence Labor’s ‘wasteful spending and mismanagement” at Workers’ Comp MORE’s leadership and direction, our party will continue to build on the progress we’ve made in 2017,” she continued.

Perez, the DNC chairman, thanked O’Connell for her work in an email to DNC staff, saying the “Democratic Party was broken” when she joined the organization.

O’Connell joined the group as Democrats were still recovering from Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE’s surprise loss to President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE in the 2016 election.

The DNC faced a difficult rebuilding period after divisions emerged between the more progressive members of the party who supported Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) in the Democratic primary and those who backed Clinton.

The group was also rocked by former DNC interim Chairwoman Donna Brazile’s new book, in which she said she found fundraising information she said was proof that the Clinton campaign had rigged the primary in its favor. She later denied that the primary was rigged.

Perez and Sanders launched a unity tour after Perez was elected as DNC chair, and Perez tapped progressive Rep. Keith EllisonKeith Maurice EllisonThe Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what ‘policing’ means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight Officer charged in Floyd’s death considered guilty plea before talks fell apart: report Minnesota AG Keith Ellison says racism is a bigger problem than police behavior; 21 states see uptick in cases amid efforts to reopen MORE (D-Minn.), who also ran to lead the DNC, as vice chair.