Major progressive group backs Wasserman Schultz challenger

A major progressive grassroots group is endorsing the primary challenger of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), accusing the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee of being in the pocket of “wealthy interests” that promote income inequality.

{mosads}Democracy for America on Friday announced its support for Tim Canova, a Florida law professor challenging Wasserman Schultz in the Florida’s 23rd Congressional District.

“DFA members are backing Tim Canova in this race for Congress, not for who he supports or who supports him, but because he has spent his life challenging the power of Wall Street banks, multinational corporations, and the systemic political corruption that keeps them profitable at the expense of everyone else,” the Jim Dean, group’s chairman, wrote in a statement.

“Simply put: If Democrats are going to be the party that confronts the wealthy and powerful who dominate our political process and enable growing income inequality, we need political revolutionaries like Tim Canova in the U.S. Congress,” Dean added.

Canova called the endorsement an honor.

“They understand that Debbie Wasserman Schultz has failed us by standing with Republicans and corporate interests against the people of South Florida,” he said in a statement.

“I’m glad to have them on board as we continue to build a grassroots campaign that believes in progress for all.”

Democracy for America, a powerful progressive group, touts more than 1 million members across the globe and backed presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in his White House bid against Hillary Clinton.

Sanders endorsed and began fundraising for Canova last weekend.

“Well, clearly, I favor [Wasserman Schultz’s] opponent,” Sanders told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday. “His views are much closer to mine than as to Wasserman Schultz.”

However, Wasserman Schultz remains popular in her district, which overwhelmingly voted for Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the state’s March presidential primary.

President Obama also endorsed her in March, and Vice President Biden will headline a fundraiser for her next month.