Ex-Maryland Gov. O'Malley Expresses Interest In Leading DNC

BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP) —  The Democratic National Committee is looking for a new chairman, and former Governor Martin O'Malley may be throwing his hat in the ring.

O'Malley released a statement Friday saying he's "taking a hard look" at the position. He says he's been approached by "many Democrats who believe our party needs new leadership."

This is not the first time there's been talk about O'Malley and the DNC Chairmanship, but it's the first time he's expressed a public interest.

The former Maryland Governor and presidential candidate took the stage at the Democratic National Convention, to begin a cross-country campaign for Hillary Clinton through 19 states -- joining forces with Bill Clinton and Jesse in Jacksonville, Florida, welcomed with cake in Maine, gathering with supporters in North Carolina, pitching in in Virginia, New Jersey, Nevada, Colorado.

And now - looking to the future, he tweets:

"Since the election, I have been approached by many democrats who believe our party needs new leadership. I'm taking a hard look at dnc chair because I know how badly we need to reform our nominating process, articulate a bold progressive vision, recommit ourselves to higher wages and a stronger middle class, and return to our roots as a nationwide, grassroots party."

He has a lot of political experience, he's been campaigning for Clinton, he's taken a run at the presidency himself.

Howard Dean is also considering. Like O'Malley, a former governor and former presidential candidate but unlike O'Malley, he's also a former DNC chairman who says he knows how to rebuild the party.

Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison is also in the running. Ellison has the backing of Bernie Sanders, who's now a party icon, and Ellison says he'll decide if he wants to be considered on Monday. Though, none of that rules O'Malley out.

Governor O'Malley has not said when he will decide.

The interim DNC chair is under fire for failing to mobilize the party's ground game during the election, among other complaints.

O'Malley ran for president, but he ended his campaign in early February midway through vote-counting in the Iowa caucuses after his bid failed to gain traction against Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

He is a former two-term governor and Baltimore mayor.

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