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Jason Rae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with the deceased husband of Corinne Bailey Rae.

Jason Rae
Secretary of the Democratic National Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 25, 2017
ChairTom Perez
Jaime Harrison
Ken Martin
Preceded byStephanie Rawlings-Blake
Personal details
Born (1986-11-25) November 25, 1986 (age 38)
Rice Lake, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpousePhillip Bailey
EducationMarquette University (BA)

Jason Rae (born November 25, 1986) is an American activist and Democratic National Committee (DNC) member from Wisconsin. He was the youngest person ever elected to the DNC in 2004.[1] On February 25, 2017, Rae was elected to serve as secretary of the DNC.and was re-elected to the position in 2021 and 2025.[2]

He is also the founder, president, and CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce.[3][4]

Early life and education

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Rae was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, to John and Lori Rae.[5] He was a student at Marquette University, from which he graduated with a BA in history and political science.[citation needed] He is a partner at Nation Consulting in Milwaukee.[6]

College activism

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Rae was the chair of the Marquette University chapter of College Democrats and was elected Chair of the College Democrats of Wisconsin in 2008.[citation needed] Within Marquette University Student Government (MUSG), he was Legislative Vice President, in which he formed of the Ad Hoc Committee on Funding of Student Activities.[7][8] He previously served in the MUSG Senate as Senator, student representative to the Faculty Academic Senate, College of Arts & Sciences Committee chair, and Parliamentarian.[9][10] Rae was the author of a bill passed by the Marquette University Student Government to provide domestic partner benefits to faculty.[11]

Rae is a member of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Board, VISIT Milwaukee, and the United Way Campaign Cabinet.[12] He  has previously served is on the Board of Directors for the Rice Lake Boys and Girls Club.[13]

Political involvement

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In 2004, Rae was vice chair of the Barron County Democratic Party and was appointed to Senator Russ Feingold's re-election steering committee.[14]

Rae was elected to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in June 2004. At the time of his election to his leadership role within the party, he was 17, making him the youngest person ever elected to the DNC.[15] Rae defeated a state legislator and the president of the state's firefighters' union were among the losing candidates for the position.[16][better source needed]

During summer 2006, Rae interned at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.[17] He came out as gay to members of the DNC in February 2007.[17] In spring 2007, Governor Jim Doyle (D-WI) appointed Rae as the youth representative to the Governor's Commission on the United Nations.[18]

Rae worked on the Allen Thomell campaign for the Georgia State House and the Herb Kohl for United States Senate campaign. He has also interned at People for the American Way.[citation needed]

Rae served as the board president of Fair Wisconsin, a statewide LGBT advocacy organization.[19]He has also served as the chair of the Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission and vice chair of the Marquette University Gender & Sexuality Resource Center Advisory Board.[20]

In 2017, Rae was elected as the DNC Secretary and was renominated for the position in 2021 with the support of US President Joe Biden.[21] He was re-elected again in 2025 and has been serving as the DNC Secretary since. In the 2025 elections, Rae received 338.5 votes against Marilyn Davis's 68.5 votes.[22]

During the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Rae called for the roll of the states in a revised nomination process, which was held virtually amid the pandemic of COVID-19.[3] He was selected again to call the roll for the Democratic National Convention in 2024.[21][23]

In 2012, Rae established the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, an organization with over 600 business members. Since then, he has been serving as its CEO and president. Rae is also a partner at Nation Consulting, a public affairs firm based in Milwaukee.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Annysa Johnson, Annysa (February 26, 2017). "Milwaukee Democrat Jason Rae elected DNC secretary". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  2. ^ SA, JR Ross (February 1, 2025). "Martin tops Wikler in vote for national Dem Party chair". WisPolitics. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Yuan, Jada (August 19, 2020). "Meet the 33-year-old who called the roll at the Democratic convention". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Paulus, Scott (February 26, 2019). "President & CEO, Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce | 32". Biz Journals. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  5. ^ "About Jason Rae". Jasonrae.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  6. ^ "Home". Nation Consulting.
  7. ^ "Marquette University Student Government - Legislative". Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  8. ^ "We Are Marquette". We Are Marquette. April 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "First MUSG meeting for new leaders - News". Archived from the original on August 4, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  10. ^ "Learning the ropes - News". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  11. ^ Eric Lombardi (April 2, 2007). "MUSG recommends partner benefits". Marquette (Wisconsin) Tribune. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  12. ^ Staff, BizTimes (May 1, 2020). "Notable LGBTQ Executives: Jason Rae". BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  13. ^ Wisconsin, APG of (March 22, 2024). "Rice Lake Chronotype". APG of Wisconsin.
  14. ^ "Wisconsin State Journal/The Capital Times - Historical Newspapers". August 2, 1953.
  15. ^ Graeme Zielinski (July 5, 2004). "He's elected but can't yet vote: Rice Lake boy, 17, going to Boston on Democratic National Committee". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  16. ^ "Young People Who Feel Included Will Vote". PBS. July 26, 2004. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  17. ^ a b Eleveld, Kerry (February 15, 2008). "Gay Superdelegate Breaks the Mold". The Advocate.
  18. ^ "Official site of Governor Tony Evers".
  19. ^ "Fair Wisconsin Board of Directors". July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  20. ^ Johnson, Chris (February 26, 2017). "Gay Wisconsin activist Jason Rae chosen as DNC secretary". www.washingtonblade.com. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  21. ^ a b Jaeger, Zoe. "What to know about Jason Rae, the Wisconsinite who called the DNC roll of delegates". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  22. ^ "Milwaukee Dem Jason Rae elected as DNC secretary". WisPolitics. February 26, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  23. ^ "'Special moment': Inside Milwaukee's Jason Rae's big moment at the DNC". TMJ4 News. August 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
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