Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin has been elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Martin secured 246.5 votes of the total 428 members who voted in person and by proxy, and DNC members cheered after he was announced as the winner, chanting, “Yes, we Ken!”
“Ken Martin is now the Chair of the Democratic Party,” outgoing DNC Chairman Jamie Harrison said upon reading the vote count.
PHOTO: Ken Martin, president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, discusses the 2024 Democratic National Convention during a news conference, April 18, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
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Runner-up Ben Wikler, chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, received 134.5 votes, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley received 44 votes and four people abstained.
Faiz Shakir received two votes, Jason Paul received one vote and there were no votes for Nate Snyder, Quintessa Hathaway or Marianne Williamson.
“We have one team: the Democratic Party. We have one fight. … The fight is for our values. The fight is for working people. The fight right now is against Donald Trump and the billionaires who bought this country,” Martin said in his victory speech.
In a meeting with reporters immediately after his win, Martin told ABC News his first three priorities are setting up a rapid response “war room” to message against Trump and define the party’s agenda, beginning the process of reviewing the party’s strategy that led to its losses in the White House and Congress and conducting a review of the party’s finances.
Martin said his posture will be aggressive against Trump and leading Republicans in Washington, claiming he’d “take the low road so my candidates and elected officials can take the high road.”
“Meaning, I’m going to throw a punch,” Martin said. “So Donald Trump, Republican Party — this is a new DNC. We are not going to sit back and not take you on when you fail the American people.”
After the tally was announced, Democratic governors, some of the highest profile of whom endorsed Wikler in the race, offered Martin congratulations.
“I can’t wait to work together to unite the Democratic Party, fight for working families, and win,” posted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who supported Wikler.
PHOTO: In this June 8, 2024, file photo, WisDems Chair Ben Wikler speaks during the WisDems 2024 State Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for The Democratic Party of Wisconsin, FILE)
Martin also received praise from his home governor, Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee this cycle. Walz was an outlier among his fellow governors in backing Martin over Wikler.
“Congratulations, Ken!” Walz posted on X.
Several party heavyweights endorsed Wikler in the final days of the election, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. When asked what his victory means despite those leaders endorsing his challenger, Martin said he doesn’t see their support for Wikler as “personal” and looks forward to working with those Democratic leaders.
“This is not personal. We’re all on the same team. It’s one team, one fight now, right? I have longstanding relationships in the party, and at the end of the day, I am buoyed by that enthusiastic support. It was a one-ballot victory for a reason,” Martin said.
Meanwhile, Martin earned last-minute backing from some of his fellow candidates for chair. In their final speeches on Saturday, author and spiritualist Marianne Williamson and Nate Snyder, a former Department of Homeland Security official, publicly endorsed Martin.
“In contribution to what I feel is our best chance to intervene, our best chance to cut the cord with the billionaire funded corruption that will otherwise obstruct and limit our possibilities, I heartily endorse Ken Martin,” Williamson said during her address to the DNC.
PHOTO: (L-R) Former US President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attend the inauguration ceremonies in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images)
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Biden and Harris chime in
Ahead of the vote, delegates and members heard from several Democratic elected officials and party leaders, the most notable being former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, who each submitted a video shown to the group. Neither Biden nor Harris endorsed in the race.
In his video, Biden encouraged Democrats to organize against the “oligarchy” he said is forming in the U.S.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America. An oligarchy of extreme wealth and power and influence that threatens the entire democracy — our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.
“That’s our task of Democrats: to organize, to mobilize, to recruit folks to run, to empower more Americans to believe the America of our dreams is closer than we think,” he added.
An eruption of cheers then emanated when Harris, the party’s final 2024 presidential nominee, appeared on the screen. She remarked on the future of the party, claiming Democratic infrastructure still holds importance and that she will be involved in its next steps.
Harris had calls with Martin, Wikler and O’Malley ahead of Saturday’s vote, though she did not endorse in the race. And during the press gaggle, Martin said he had a “great” conversation with her, and hopes Harris plays a “big role” in the party going forward.
“Your leadership will be even more important. We have some hard work ahead of us, that you know what I like to say: Our work is good work. Hard work is joyful work,” Harris said in her video.
“And as we continue to fight for our ideals and to realize the promise of America, I will be with you every step of the way,” Harris added.
DNC selects new leader after 2024 election disappointment originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
