An election for the chairmanship of the California Democratic Party was held on May 20, 2017, to succeed outgoing John Burton.
Ellis was supported by progressive groups like the California Nurses Association, which supported Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary, and Our Revolution, which grew out of the Sanders campaign.
She was narrowly defeated by Eric Bauman, who has been described as a "consummate party insider."
On May 20, 2017, Bauman was elected Chair of the California Democratic Party at the annual state convention.
He was the first openly gay and Jewish person to serve as Chair of the Party.