Feb 25, 2017

Democrats pick Perez

Nicholas Johnston

AP Photo/Branden Camp

Tom Perez will be the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He defeated Keith Ellison.

Why this matters: Ellison is a House member from Minnesota and the first Muslim elected to Congress. He was backed by Bernie Sanders. Perez was President Obama's Labor secretary and had the backing of former Vice President Biden. So the race was seen as a contest between the party establishment and its left wing.

But, but, but... Perez picked Ellison to be his deputy chair.

Who to watch: Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, used his speech today to drop out of the running for chair and then didn't endorse. A lot of sharp political minds called that a good move. He got noticed as a rising star, avoided a distant-third place finish, and didn't antagonize the eventual winner.

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Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 4:30 p.m. ET: 1,579,690 — Total deaths: 94,567 — Total recoveries: 346,780 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 4:30 p.m. ET: 452,582 — Total deaths: 16,129 — Total recoveries: 24,790 — Map.
  3. Public health latest: U.S. has expelled thousands of migrants under coronavirus public health order — Dr. Anthony Fauci said social distancing could reduce the U.S. death toll to 60,000.
  4. Business latest: The Fed will lend up to $2.3 trillion for businesses, state and city governments — Another 6.6 million jobless claims were filed last week.
  5. World latest: Boris Johnson is moved out of ICU but remains in hospital with coronavirus.
  6. In Congress: Senate in stalemate over additional funding for small business relief program.
  7. What should I do? Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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