Ellison is a smug, overconfident extreme elitist. That's a good reflection of present day Democratic party. A mirror image of Republicans: as French Bourbons of 19th century they "forgot nothing and learned nothing". If 2016 (after 2010 and 2014) didn't taught Democrats anything - they are, probably, as hopeless as Republicans are..
Which of his statements make you think that he's a smug elitist?
More behavoir. He doesn't want to recognize (though Minnesota gave ample examples this year) that Democratic party is not only minorities and well-to-do social liberals. Minnesota seems limited to Minneapolis and St. Paul to him. A man, who seems to relish isolated life in well-equipped "ivory tower" of his, and is utterly unable to expand the Democratic "big tent" or return voters, who defected to Trump this year . On the contrary - he seems to care about "ultraprogressives" like himself only.. I don't even speak about possible problems with Jewish Democrats (one of last white groups still mostly loyal to party) under his leadership and past statements, bordering on direct antisemitism.