Ex-Sanders spokeswoman: ‘We don’t need white people leading the Democratic Party right now’

A former spokeswoman for Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign said that the next head of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) should reflect the party’s diversity.

“In my opinion, we don’t need white people leading the Democratic Party right now,” Symone Sanders told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. 

“The Democratic Party is diverse, and it should be reflected as so in our leadership and throughout the staff at the highest levels from the vice chairs to the secretaries all the way down to the people working in the offices at the DNC,” Symone Sanders added.

Democrats are currently working to restructure leadership roles in the wake of Hillary Clinton’s loss to President-elect Donald Trump.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) has launched a bid for the head of the DNC, while Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) is challenging House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for her leadership position. 

Former Gov. Howard Dean, (D-Vt.), who previously chaired the DNC from 2005 to 2009, said he will also run for the chairman’s spot.

But Symone Sanders said Dean “is not what we need right now,” citing Dean’s comments about Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary.

Dean said in June that Bernie Sanders could cost Democrats the election.

“I want to hear more from everybody. I’m here for the millennials and the brown folks,” Symone Sanders told CNN on Wednesday.