Sanders says he's supporting DNC chairwoman's opponent in Florida race

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DNC challenger: Debbie Wasserman Schultz should be worried

Tim Canova on receiving Bernie Sanders' backing

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders said he’s throwing his support to the opponent of Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in her Florida primary contest Aug. 30 for her congressional seat.

The Vermont senator said in an interview with CNN, which will be broadcast Sunday, he favors Tim Canova in Florida’s 23rd congressional district, the Associated Press reported. Sanders has been feuding with the Democratic National Committee and Wasserman Schultz.

"I'm so proud to know that Bernie Sanders favors our progressive campaign. Like Senator Sanders, I'm running a campaign that's truly backed by the people, not big corporations — one that stands up to Wall Street interests instead of cozying up to them,” Canova’s campaign said in a statement.

Sanders said in a pre-taped interview to be aired Sunday on the network that Canova’s views are much closer to his views. “Clearly I favor her opponent,” he said.

Sanders trails Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential race. But he said if he's elected president, "she would not be reappointed to be chair of the DNC."

Wasserman Schultz said Saturday that she would remain neutral in the Democratic presidential race despite his endorsement of her primary opponent.

"Even though Senator Sanders has endorsed my opponent, I remain, as I have been from the beginning, neutral in the presidential Democratic primary," she said. "I look forward to working together with him for Democratic victories in the fall."

Sanders has accused the DNC and Wasserman Schultz of favoring Clinton. And he has criticized the party for scheduling debates on weekend nights, for having many closed primaries and for its superdelegate system that helped Clinton pad her lead.

Fox News’ Lauren Blanchard and the Associated Press contributed to this report.