Houton, no relation to the famous presidential Kennedy family, could play the proverbial Robert F. Kennedy Jr. role in the race for DNC leader. Both candidates have little chance of winning the top prize but they have a record of calling on the party to understand Trump’s appeal.

He faces stiff competition from the current front-runners, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler and DNC Vice Chairman Ken Martin, who is also head of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Fellow Marylander and former Gov. Martin O’Malley is also running, as is New York state Sen. James Skoufis.

Still, Houton is hoping his run will force the party to move away from the most left-leaning voices.

DEMOCRATS SEARCH FOR ANSWERS AS BARACK OBAMA’S INFLUENCE WANES

“I don’t tolerate just sitting back and watching the party implode because they are beholden to the radical Left,” Houton told the Washington Examiner in an interview as he seeks to replace current Chairman Jaime Harrison, who is not seeking reelection.

After Trump won all seven battleground states, the popular vote, and helped the GOP gain or keep control of the House and Senate, several of the DNC chair contenders are pushing the party to rethink how it appeals to working-class voters.

Yet, Houton may be the most Trump-like candidate among them all.

Houton wants Democrats to endorse Trump’s extension of his signature Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, support private school vouchers, renounce past embrace of sanctuary cities and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as prevent all illegal immigration, among other top priorities.

It’s a stark indication that the Democratic Party is not only licking its wounds after losing power but could be moving back to the center after voters handed the White House back to Trump, “I actually take it as a compliment if someone says I’m the most Trumpian because Trump won,” Houton said.

However, when progressive lawmakers such as Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal called for the next DNC chair to eschew corporate PAC donations and “push to ban SuperPAC spending in Democratic primaries.” Houton agreed with their demands.

“If someone has fresh ideas and they’re bold and they want to make change and they want to communicate that message, it’s near impossible to do it if you’re crowded out and the airwaves are bought up and everything else is bought up,” Houton said.

Houton ran unsuccessfully for Maryland’s open Senate seat that was eventually captured by Sen.-elect Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) after she defeated Rep. David Trone (D-MD) in the Democratic primary and then defeated former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

Now, as he seeks to lead the DNC, Houton is also pointing to a necessary shift away from the elder Democrats who are still in power.

“I called for the person that we elect must be under 60 years old, and that’s because we need to have the energy. We need to show that we’re the future party, and my party has been failing,” Houton said, referencing elder Democrats such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

President Joe Biden has faced much criticism from party members for his decision to run for office for a second term in his 80s and the chaotic suspension of his campaign in July, leaving Vice President Kamala Harris roughly three months to campaign against Trump.

HOW BIDEN IS TRYING TO SHAPE HIS LEGACY WITH JUST MONTHS LEFT IN OFFICE

The other DNC chair contenders have also advocated a change in how Democrats proceed under a second Trump administration. Martin, the DNC vice chairman, is urging members to “show up in nontraditional and uncomfortable media spaces on a regular basis” in a “New DNC Framework” memo.

He claims to have 100 members backing his campaign out of the total 448 DNC members and the 225 votes needed to secure a majority of the vote.

Skoufis, the New York state lawmaker, told the Hill, “In speaking with a lot of DNC members and the broader Democratic Party, we are looking for a fresh perspective.”

Wikler, the Wisconsin party leader, has the backing of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and the center-left think tank Third Way. In the video announcing his candidacy, Wikler claimed, “Today, the country we love needs the Democratic Party to be stronger. To unite. To fight. And to win.”

“We face enormous challenges and a lot of soul-searching,” O’Malley told the New York Times. “We need to focus on fixing the problem and not the blame.”

Houton criticized Martin and Wikler, the two front-runners in the race, over their “strategic gamesmanship” as not beneficial for the party.

“If they’re not speaking to the moderate, never mind the moderate right Democrat, they’re going to be hamstrung,” Houton said.

MEET THE NEW CONGRESS: THE HOUSE AND SENATE FRESHMEN ELECTED TO SERVE NEXT YEAR

He will need at least 40 signatures to advance in the chairmanship race, which he claims he will meet as he has reached out to members. “Because there is so much frustration among many of the DNC members that they’re giving Herculean tasks and assignments, and there’s no budget, no resources,” he said.

The DNC will meet on Dec. 12 to decide on the process for selecting the next leader. During their winter meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, next year, members will select their next leaders on Feb. 1.