Wasserman Schultz is currently serving her fourth term as a representative for Florida’s 20th district, the first Jewish woman to be elected in her state. 

Vice President Joe Biden made the announcement via e-mail to members of the DNC.

POLITICO reported:

“In selecting Debbie to lead our party, President Obama noted her tenacity, her strength, her fighting spirit and her ability to overcome adversity,” Biden wrote.

“President Obama expressed great admiration for her as a leader, and he was honored that she accepted this important challenge on behalf of the Democratic Party.”

Wasserman Schultz becomes the first female DNC chief in 15 years and the third in history.

The Florida representative is a breast cancer survivor and remains extremely outspoken about healthcare, one of President Obama’s key platform issues going into the 2012 Presidential campaign. 

From the Los Angeles Times:

A proven fundraiser, Wasserman Schultz also will be expected to help the party build what is sure to be an unprecedented war chest for a national campaign.

Obama ultimately signed off on the choice, which was said to be between Wasserman Schultz and Ted Strickland, the former Ohio governor, who was unseated in 2010 after one term.

Kaine, appointed by Obama just before his 2009 inauguration, announced Tuesday that he was stepping down as chair to run for Virginia's open U.S. Senate seat in 2012.

The new democratic leader’s first order of business Tuesday was to address voting demographics in light of recent redistricting attempts from Republican lawmakers. In specific, Wasserman Schultz said the Hispanic vote would be crucial in the upcoming election.

"I think a lot of the districts will have more higher Latino populations than we saw in the last census. I think the Hispanic vote is going to be a significant factor in the next election," Wasserman Schultz said. "I think we're in great shape."

"This past election was tough," she continued. "We must do a better job of clearly articulating our accomplishments to the American people."

"We must expose the stark difference between the Democrats fighting for the middle class and Republicans fighting for the elite and the ultra-wealthy," she added.