Longtime Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin was elected chair of the Democratic National Committee Saturday in a commanding first ballot victory, vaulting him to the national stage while leaving a major hole to fill for local Democrats.
Martin is a 1991 graduate of Eden Prairie High School.
“The Democratic Party is the party of working people, and it’s time to roll up our sleeves and outcompete everywhere, in every election, and at every level of government – and I look forward to working with this next generation of leadership to build a party to unite America,” Martin said during his victory speech, according to a statement from the DNC.
Martin is 25-0 in Minnesota statewide races, but he has a major challenge ahead of him. Democrats relinquished both chambers of Congress and the White House in November, with the convicted felon and twice-impeached Donald Trump becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years.
Democrats have lost ground among working-class voters and saw an erosion of support among key voter blocs in their coalition, including Black and Latino Americans.
Trump has used his first two weeks in office to launch a wave of initiatives through executive orders and purges of career federal workers, which has united Democrats in opposition but often left them unsure how to proceed.
Martin’s record in Minnesota has been so dominant that his election to DNC chair drew sheepish congratulations from Republican operative Andrew Wagner on X Saturday: ”Congrats to Ken Martin. Here’s to hoping your successor is not nearly as effective as you’ve been as Minnesota DFL chair.”
Martin has been a skilled fundraiser and party builder, using huge sums from wealthy individuals and labor unions to build a permanent campaign – research, field organization and communications – that frequently left Republicans flat-footed.
His departure means Minnesota Democrats need to find a new leader.
The Star Tribune reported Saturday that Gov. Tim Walz endorsed his Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carlbom to be the new chair.
Other candidates are expected to emerge, however, including veteran DFL hands Ron Harris and Alana Petersen.
You can read more about Martin in a recent Minnesota Reformer profile.
Editor’s note: The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets can’t or won’t tell.
J. Patrick Coolican wrote this story, which originally appeared in the Minnesota Reformer on Feb. 1. Coolican is editor-in-chief of the Reformer.
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