Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair, Ken Martin, announced his candidacy for the position of Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Tuesday, November 19. Martin, a farmer from the Midwest, stated that he has secured the support of 83 members of the Democratic National Committee, nearly one-fifth of the committee’s members.
Currently serving as the Chair of the Association of State Democratic Committees, Martin has already garnered support from some state party leaders and progressive individuals in the early stages of his campaign.
James Zogby, a long-time member of the Democratic National Committee representing the progressive wing of the party, expressed his support for Martin, citing the need for a leader who can unify the Democratic Party and strengthen state and local party structures while promoting transparency, accountability, and democratic decision-making.
Martin confirmed his candidacy through a text message to POLITICO, with The New York Times being the first to report this development.
Incumbent DNC Chair Jaime Harrison announced that he will not seek reelection, paving the way for a new leader to take over the helm of the party’s national committee.
Other declared and potential candidates for the DNC Chair position include former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, former New York Congressman Max Rose, former White House Infrastructure Secretary Mitch Landrieu, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, former New York State Assemblyman Michael Blake, among others.
O’Malley became the first candidate to officially announce his bid for DNC Chair, emphasizing the importance of connecting the party with American families’ everyday concerns, providing jobs, opportunities, and economic security for all, and advancing a 50-state strategy from now on.
One of the goals of the DNC Chair election is to strategize and regroup after the Democratic Party’s loss in the recent election to President Donald Trump, exploring the direction for future progress and planning the way forward.
Following Vice President Harris’s unsuccessful bid in the 2024 presidential election, the new DNC Chair will bear the responsibility of devising strategies for the 2026 midterm elections and setting the course for the Democratic Party’s future development. The new Chair will also oversee the party’s nomination process for the 2028 election.
According to the Democratic Party charter, the term of office for the DNC Chair is four years, with a special election to be held by March 1, 2025, to fill any vacancies.