Just weeks after a bruising presidential election, the Democratic Party has begun its race to select the next leader of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley have officially entered the contest to steer the party forward in the wake of a challenging election cycle.
A Critical Decision Ahead
The DNC’s approximately 450 members will elect the next chair by March 1, 2025, following outgoing leader Jaime Harrison’s term. The new chair will face the daunting task of rebranding and restructuring the party after Republicans reclaimed the presidency, Senate, and held onto the House in the 2024 election.
Martin and O’Malley are the first candidates to declare their bids, kicking off what is expected to be a competitive race. The decision comes as Democrats grapple with the need to reinvigorate grassroots organizing, refine messaging, and shape the 2028 presidential primary calendar.
The Candidates: Martin and O’Malley
Ken Martin, a seasoned party leader, has chaired Minnesota’s Democratic Party since 2011 and serves as a DNC vice chair. Launching his campaign with endorsements from 83 DNC members, Martin emphasized his outsider credentials while leveraging his deep knowledge of party infrastructure.
“If you’re looking for a creature of DC, that’s not me,” Martin said in his campaign announcement. “But I do know how the DNC works – and how it isn’t working.”
Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who also served as commissioner of the Social Security Administration, is focusing his campaign on economic issues and grassroots empowerment. O’Malley, a 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, has emphasized rebuilding the party’s foundation to address voters’ concerns across all states.
“We must organize in every state and speak to the economic concerns of every person in America,” O’Malley said. “Jobs, opportunity, economic security for all. These are the goals of our Party and the things that make our country stronger.”
O’Malley has already secured endorsements from Democratic officials, including Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Chris Van Hollen.
A Crowded Field Expected
Other potential candidates are reportedly weighing their options, including Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, and outgoing California Senator Laphonza Butler.
Challenges Ahead
The new DNC chair will inherit the responsibility of reshaping the 2028 Democratic presidential primary calendar, a contentious process last restructured at President Biden’s request. The change elevated South Carolina to the first primary spot, a move designed to boost diversity but one that could face renewed scrutiny with no incumbent president in the next cycle.
Nevada Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno underscored the stakes: “All roads to the White House lead through this state, and we know how to win here.”
A Call for Grassroots Focus
As Democrats look ahead, there is growing demand for leadership that prioritizes grassroots organizing and connects with everyday voters.
“We need to get back to our roots,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley. “Spending hundreds of millions on TV ads isn’t getting us the results we need. It’s time to invest in people and communities.”
With the race underway, the Democratic Party faces a pivotal moment to redefine its identity and strategy for the years to come.