Reports: Joe Biden to pick Jaime Harrison as DNC chair

Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Jaime Harrison, who raised a record amount of money in his South Carolina challenge of Lindsey Graham's Senate seat, will chair the Democratic National Committee, according to multiple media reports Thursday.

The New York Times, Politico and the Washington Post reported that President-elect Joe Biden will pick Harrison, an associate and confidant of House Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., to lead the party.

Harrison, 44, is the former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party. He raised more than $130 million in his Senate campaign against Graham in 2020. Even though Graham won the race by 10 points (54.5% to 44.2%), Harrison earned recognition for his fundraising prowess and mounting a credible Democratic campaign in the deep-red state.

Harrison's record-shattering fundraising topped Graham, who raised $107 million in one of the most expensive Senate races ever.

Clyburn, whom many credit with saving Biden's campaign during the Democratic primary with his support in South Carolina, had pushed Harrison for the role.

Harrison, who worked for Clyburn, served as associate chairman under current DNC Chair Tom Perez and senior counselor to the DNC.

Harrison started the Dirt Road PAC to support Democratic candidates in other Southern states. The group was instrumental in raising money in Georgia Senate runoff victories for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, allowing the Democrats to take control of the body.

Harrison's most urgent task will be rebuilding Democratic state parties, where locals have been grumbling after losing seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and failing to capitalize on some Senate positions in November despite Biden's win.