Ken Martin, chairman of the Minnesota Democratic National Committee, is running for chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Leading his state party since 2011 and serving as vice chairman of the national party since 2017, Martin has already garnered the endorsement of 83 members of the DNC — nearly one-fifth of the body.
Martin is also the president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, which lobbies the interests of state parties at the national level.
I am running to serve as the Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
When I took over @MinnesotaDFL, we were in debt and disarray. But we brought people together, built a winning coalition, and delivered results.
I’m ready to get to work to rebuild our party. pic.twitter.com/DvThAHVMA8
— Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) November 19, 2024
In his campaign video, Martin touted Minnesota as a strong Democratic stronghold and how party leaders in the state have worked to pass legislation to create paid family leave, affordable housing, and tax relief for the middle class.
“Here’s the thing, if you’re looking for a creature of DC, that’s not me, but I do know how the DNC works and how it isn’t working,” Martin says in the video. “I know how to listen to the voters, to those who feel cast aside by Democrats, and to the people working hard within our party with great ideas.”
Jaime Harrison, the current head of the DNC since 2017, announced after the election that he will not be seeking reelection.
Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley also stepped forward yesterday. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler and Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor and Obama adviser, have also been floated.
The pending election comes as Democrats are reeling from losing control of both the White House and Senate.
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Martin told the New York Times that the DNC is dealing with a major “branding problem.”
“For the first time in modern history, the majority of Americans believe that the Republican Party best represents the interests of the working class and the poor and that the Democratic Party represents the interests of the wealthy and the elite,” Martin said. “And we’ve got to do a better job of making sure people know that wherever they live, wherever they are from, no matter who they are, we’re fighting for them, and we’re their champion in this country.”