President Obama will ask Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz to serve another term as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee and preside over the party as it heads into the next election cycle.
The members of the Democratic National Committee will gather in Washington next month to select a new party leader, but the endorsement from Mr. Obama all but assures the election of Ms. Wasserman Schultz, who also intends to continue to serve in her role as Florida congresswoman.
The president's decision to support Ms. Wasserman Schultz, which was first reported on Monday by Politico, was confirmed by two Democratic officials. It was expected, given the party's success in the presidential campaign last month and for holding control of the Senate.
The 2014 election cycle will be key for the Democratic Party, which will try to maintain control of the Senate, win back the House and try to cut into the Republican Party's dominant hold in governors' of fices across the country.
The midterm election of the president's second term is often challenging for the party in power at the White House, so Ms. Wasserman Schultz and the Democratic National Committee face clear challenges over the next two years, but start in a position of strength from their 2012 achievements.
Follow Jeff Zeleny on Twitter at @jeffzeleny.
