Giving Back, Paying It Forward

After working with every Democratic presidential movement from 1976 through 2000, and ascending to political stardom as the first African-American woman to head a major presidential campaign in 2000, Donna Brazile stepped up to lead the Democratic National Committee (DNC), committing herself to unifying the party behind Hillary Clinton.

- Rachel Huggins

Like anything Brazile, 56, does in politics, this isn’t just a job; it’s her passion.

“This is about transforming society, making sure that the gains we’ve made are maintained and protected, and ensuring we can move the country further,” says the interim DNC chair, who plans to remain in the role until January 2017. “So I’m on a mission again. I’m going to step up, do a good job and hopefully, after the presidential election is over with, I’ll call for the election of a permanent chair for the Democratic Party. I have no intentions of being permanent.”

The self-proclaimed “workaholic” says her main priority is rallying Democrats to the polls. “We need people to vote,” she says, with obvious urgency. “My goal is to make sure we have a good election cycle, a good election year and the party is able to continue to strengthen the bonds with the American people. [I also want us to] continue the legacy of Barack Obama and the great things he’s done with turning the economy around. His legacy matters to me.”