Ken Martin’s long tenure as Minnesota DFL Party chair could end by the weekend — if he can convince national Democrats that his 14-year stewardship can provide the formula for a broader party rebound.
Ken Martin. (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.)
“At the Minnesota DFL, we have a track record of winning elections, I’m 25-0,” Martin said ahead of the Democratic National Committee chair election. “I rebuilt and turned around the Democratic Party in Minnesota and we haven’t lost since.”
Martin is among eight candidates in an internal party race for DNC chair, which culminates with a vote Saturday just outside Washington, D.C. Martin is viewed as a leading contender, but by no means does he have the race locked up.
The winner will replace current DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and be responsible for leading the party after a bruising loss in the presidential race and an election outcome that left Democrats in the minority of both chambers of Congress.
Forum for candidates
He and the other candidates held a closing forum Thursday on the eve of the multi-day party meeting where the next leader will be selected. On Friday, candidates and volunteers made their case to voting members, shaking their hands over breakfast and inviting them to talk about priorities for the party.
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler and Martin are viewed by many as the leading candidates. Others in the race include former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, Jason Paul, Faiz Shakir, Nate Snyder and Quintessa Hathaway.
Martin has highlighted his success in raising money for the party and working with state party leaders across the country as the head of the Democratic chairs group. He said the Minnesota model is ready to go national, and he should be the one to put it in place.
Saturday vote
On Saturday, about 450 voting members of the Democratic National Committee will decide who will lead the party forward. Their choice will be a signal about how party insiders want to position themselves at the outset of President Donald Trump’s new term.
Martin said he’s prepared to take on that role while also working as an “organizer in chief” of the national party. During a candidate forum last week, Martin said he’d made it his role as DFL chair to land rhetorical hits on the GOP so that candidates don’t have to.
“My job is to get out there and define the Republicans. I will take the low road so they (Democratic candidates) can take the high road, I will throw the punches so they don’t have to,” Martin said. “We will go on the offense against Donald Trump, that’s the role that I will play as spokesperson and I will also be the organizer in chief for our party.”
Some of Martin’s rivals say that while Martin’s record in Minnesota is impressive, it doesn’t make him the best choice for the national post. Wikler said Democrats should instead opt for someone who has pulled off upsets in a battleground state where Republicans have bombarded voters with campaign ads and visits.
“In my state, where Republicans smashed unions and suppressed votes and gerrymandered maps, we fought back year over year and faced down the biggest attacks the GOP could levy and unrigged our state,” Wikler said during a candidate panel last week. “And now we have to unrig the country.”
What went wrong in 2024, looking to 2028
Several candidates agree that the party needs to assess what went wrong in the 2024 election and reset the party before important midterm elections in 2026 roll around. It’s also time to lay the groundwork for the 2028 presidential race, where there won’t be an incumbent on the ballot. In the meantime, Martin and others have said Democrats need to build out their presence across the country.
“What we have to do to counter this is to stand up a permanent campaign where we’re not just showing up to communities throughout this nation four months before an election and asking them for their vote, which we haven’t earned by being in community and having communications with voters when we don’t need their vote,” Martin said during a candidate forum earlier this month. “We need to earn back the trust of big parts of our coalition.”
He’s also advocated for honing the party’s message to working class Americans and communicating through more mediums like podcasts, gaming platforms and others.
Support from Keith Ellison
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison plans to be on hand to round up support for Martin.
Keith Ellison. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Ellison previously sought the post himself in 2017, right as Trump was beginning his first term. He lost to former Labor Secretary Tom Perez.
Martin was behind Ellison in that race. Ellison in turn said that Martin is uniquely positioned for the job.
“He knows how to run a state party well, he’s been a winner, he’s been successful. He knows how to manage through conflict, because Lord knows, he’s had to deal with things come up. And you’ve got to deal with it and he also understands other state parties and he’s got the support of those folks,” Ellison said. “He’s the best thing for this party, particularly in this Trump period.”
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