Ken Martin

Martin was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 17,{{cite web |author1=Minnesota's 7th Congressional District DFL |title=Happy Birthday to our fantastic state DFL Chair Ken Martin. |url=https://www.facebook.com/CD7DFL/videos/happy-birthday-ken-from-the-7th/214256357249527/ |website=facebook |access-date=5 March 2025 |date=July 17, 2021}} 1973,{{cite news |last1=Glueck |first1=Katie |title=Who Is Ken Martin, the New Leader of the D.N.C.? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/us/politics/ken-martin-dnc.html |access-date=5 March 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=February 1, 2025 |quote=Mr. Martin, 51}} and attended Eden Prairie High School. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1996 with a BA in political science and history. Chancellor Robert Hemenway presented Martin with the Donald K. Alderson Memorial Award, which recognizes a graduating senior whose campus involvement benefited fellow students and the greater good.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Martin started his political work in 1990 as an intern for Minnesota U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's campaign and later interned in his official office.{{cite news |last1=Glueck |first1=Katie |title=Who Is Ken Martin, the New Leader of the D.N.C.? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/us/politics/ken-martin-dnc.html |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=New York Times |date=February 1, 2025}} In 1992, Martin organized college campuses throughout the South for the Clinton/Gore campaign.{{Cite web |last=Radelat |first=Ana |date=2025-01-07 |title=Ken Martin makes pitch to labor at forum for DNC party chair |url=https://www.minnpost.com/national/2025/01/dnc-chair-candidate-ken-martin-makes-pitch-to-labor-as-party-struggles-to-regain-footing-with-blue-collar-workers/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}} After college, he worked in Kansas politics helping with the Kansas Democratic Coordinated Campaign as field director for the Kansas Democratic Party.{{cite news |last1=Moini |first1=Nina |last2=Zdechlik |first2=Mark |last3=Kuznetsov |first3=Aleesa |title=How Ken Martin hopes to shape the future of the Democratic party |url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2024/11/19/how-ken-martin-hopes-to-shape-the-future-of-the-democratic-party |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=November 19, 2024}}

In 1998, Martin moved back to Minnesota and served as the political and field director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He served as the deputy Minnesota State Director for the Gore campaign in 2000 and in 2002 was the campaign manager for secretary of state candidate Buck Humphrey. In 2004, Martin helped manage John Kerry's presidential campaign in Minnesota.{{Cite web|url=http://p2004.org/kerry/kerrorgmn.html|title=John Kerry-Minnesota Campaign Organization|website=p2004.org}}

From 2001 to 2005, Martin served as the policy aide for Ramsey County commissioner Susan Haigh. He served as the executive assistant to Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch and helped run his 2006 campaign for governor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2011/02/05/ken-martin-elected-new-dfl-chairman/|title=Ken Martin elected new DFL chairman|date=February 5, 2011}} Working with the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, he led an effort on behalf of the building trades to pass prevailing wage ordinances with local governments throughout Minnesota.{{cite news |last1=Nesterak |first1=Max |title=Ken Martin just wants to win |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/01/30/ken-martin-just-wants-to-win/ |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Reformer |date=January 30, 2025}} In 2008, he led the campaign that passed the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment (Legacy Amendment) to the Minnesota Constitution.{{Cite web|url=https://www.minnpost.com/twin-cities-business/2014/02/minnesotas-legacy-amendment-whose-legacy-it/|title=Minnesota's Legacy Amendment: Whose legacy is it?|date=February 5, 2014|website=MinnPost}} Martin later served as the executive director of WIN Minnesota, a donor collaborative that helped develop, fund, and direct independent expenditures during the 2010 election cycle. After the election, DFL gubernatorial nominee Mark Dayton chose Martin to direct Dayton's recount effort.{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/dayton-s-raised-more-than-1-million-for-recount/111073699/|title=Dayton's raised more than $1 million for recount|website=Star Tribune|date=November 30, 2010 }} The recount confirmed that Dayton had won the election.

In 2011, Dayton asked Martin to serve as chairman of the Minnesota DFL Party. He was elected unanimously in February.{{cn|date=February 2025}} In 2017, his peers nationwide elected Martin president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, and he became a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.{{cite news |last1=Vakil |first1=Caroline |title=What to know about Ken Martin, the next chair of the DNC |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5120961-ken-martin-new-dnc-chair-what-to-know/ |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=The Hill |date=February 1, 2025}} On February 1, 2025, he was elected Democratic National Committee chair.{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Elena |date=2025-02-01 |title=Ken Martin elected DNC chair as party seeks to rebuild |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/01/ken-martin-elected-dnc-party-chair-00201938 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Politico |language=en}}

File:KenMartin.jpg

When Martin was elected chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in 2011, he inherited a state party deeply in debt{{Cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-dfl-and-republican-parties-report-more-debt-than-cash/164435346/ |date=July 31, 2012 |author=rachelsb |title=Minnesota DFL and Republican parties report more debt than cash |work=Star Tribune |access-date=July 31, 2019}} after significant election losses, including losing the majority in the state senate for the first time in 40 years, the majority in the House of Representatives, and one of the longest-held Democratic seats in Congress with the defeat of Jim Oberstar in Minnesota's 8th congressional district.{{cite news |last1=Scheck |first1=Tom |title=Brian Melendez stepping down as chair of DFL Party |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/12/10/dfl-party-chair-brian-melendez-steps-down |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=December 10, 2010}}

In the 2012 Minnesota elections, the DFL regained majorities in both houses of the state legislature;{{cite news |last1=Scheck |first1=Tom |last2=Nelson |first2=Tim |last3=Vogel |first3=Jennifer |title=Democrats win Minnesota House, Senate |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/11/07/legislature |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=November 7, 2012}} Minnesota became the first state to defeat a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage;{{Cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/11/06/politics/elex-night-marriage-amendment|title=Minnesota voters reject marriage amendment {{!}} MPR News|website=www.mprnews.org|date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=July 31, 2019}} a voter ID constitutional amendment was defeated;{{cite news |last1=Pugmire |first1=Tim |last2=Aslanian |first2=Sasha |title=Marriage, voter ID amendment efforts fail |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/11/07/marriage-voter-id-amendment-efforts-fail |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=November 7, 2012}} and DFL nominee Rick Nolan won in the 8th congressional district.{{cite news |last1=Zdechlik |first1=Mark |last2=Friedrich |first2=Alex |last3=Kraker |first3=Dan |title=Nolan defeats Cravaack in 8th District |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/11/06/nolan-defeats-cravaack-in-8th-district |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=November 6, 2012}}

In 2014, Governor Dayton and U.S. Senator Al Franken were reelected.{{cite news |last1=Zdechlik |first1=Mark |title=US Senate: Franken wins quickly this time |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/11/04/us-senate-election |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=November 4, 2014}} Each had first been elected by a margin of less than 1% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20141104|title=MN Election Results|website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us|access-date=August 2, 2019}}

In 2016, Minnesota was one of only two Midwestern states to vote for the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton.{{cite news |title=Results: Hillary Clinton Wins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/minnesota-president-clinton-trump |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=New York Times |date=August 1, 2017}} In addition, despite losses of rural congressional seats throughout the country, the DFL won all three of its rural congressional races, reelecting Nolan, Tim Walz, and Collin Peterson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/2016-general-election-results/|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2016 General Election Results|website=www.sos.state.mn.us|access-date=August 2, 2019}}

File:2017KenMartin.jpg

In 2018, Walz was elected governor, marking the first time the DFL had had three consecutive terms in the governor's office.{{cite news |last=Coolican |first=J. Patrick |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Tim Walz defeats Jeff Johnson in high-stakes election for Minnesota governor |url=http://www.startribune.com/walz-wins-minnesota-governors-race-extending-dfl-control/499705011/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129135601/http://www.startribune.com/walz-wins-minnesota-governors-race-extending-dfl-control/499705011/ |archive-date=January 29, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=Star Tribune}} In addition, the DFL won every constitutional office; won back the majority in the State House of Representatives;{{cite news |last1=Bierschbach |first1=Briana |title=DFL retakes Minnesota House; MN Senate stays with GOP |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/11/06/2018-midterm-election-minnesota-legislature-election-day-vote |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=November 6, 2018}} flipped two congressional seats from red to blue, one of which had been held by Republicans for over 40 years; and elected two women to the U.S. Senate, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/2018-general-election-results/|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2018 General Election Results|website=www.sos.state.mn.us|access-date=August 2, 2019|archive-date=April 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410222831/https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/2018-general-election-results/|url-status=dead}} becoming only the fifth state to be represented by two women in the Senate simultaneously.{{cite news |last1=Salisbury |first1=Bill |title=Minnesota joins states with 2 women senators |url=https://www.twincities.com/2017/12/13/minnesota-joins-states-with-2-women-senators/ |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=Pioneer Press |date=December 14, 2017}} Also in 2018, after trying for many years, Martin persuaded Dean Phillips to run for Congress in Minnesota's 3rd district. Phillips defeated the incumbent, Republican Erik Paulsen, and was reelected in 2020 and 2022.{{cite web |last1=Leingang |first1=Rachel |title=Who is Democratic congressman Dean Phillips – and why is he taking on Biden? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/04/who-is-dean-phillips-views-running-president-2024-biden |work=The Guardian |access-date=17 February 2025 |date=4 November 2023}}

File:Chairman Martin in Minneapolis.jpg

After coming within 1.5% of winning Minnesota in 2016, Donald Trump's campaign heavily invested in winning Minnesota in 2020.{{Cite web|date=November 14, 2016|title=The 10 Closest States in the 2016 Election|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/the-run-2016/articles/2016-11-14/the-10-closest-states-in-the-2016-election|website=U.S. News}}{{Cite magazine|title=Why Donald Trump Thinks He Can Flip Minnesota|url=https://time.com/5891409/minnesota-trump-biden-2020/|access-date=April 14, 2021|magazine=Time}} These investments included millions in advertising and over 60 campaign staffers.{{Cite news|date=October 24, 2020|title=Trump Campaign Says It's Putting More Money Into Minnesota|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-24/trump-campaign-says-it-s-putting-more-money-into-minnesota|access-date=April 14, 2021}} With the DFL's influence, Democratic nominee Joe Biden won Minnesota with 52.40% of the vote to Trump's 45.28%.{{Cite web|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2020 General Election Results|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2020/2020-general-election-results/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=www.sos.state.mn.us}} Tina Smith was also reelected to the Senate, the DFL held the State House of Representatives and the two congressional seats the party flipped from red to blue in 2018, and it flipped three Republican-held State Senate seats.{{Cite web|title=Home - Election Results|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20201103|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us}}

On February 6, 2021, Martin was elected to a sixth term as chairman of the DFL Party,{{Cite web|title=Ken Martin, unopposed for Minnesota DFL chair, still sees headwinds|url=https://www.startribune.com/ken-martin-unopposed-for-minnesota-dfl-chair-still-sees-headwinds/600019922/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=Star Tribune|date=February 6, 2021 }} making him the longest-serving chairman in the party's 75-year history.{{Cite web |title=DFL re-elects Ken Martin to 6th term as party chairman |url=https://ktoe.com/2021/02/08/dfl-re-elects-ken-martin-to-6th-term-as-party-chairman/ |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=KTOE News}} The Star Tribune noted that the DFL had recently seen a slew of wins statewide and raised around three times as much funding as the state Republican Party in his first 10 years as chair. By the time of Martin's reelection, the Minnesota DFL had $2.5 million in the bank compared to the Republicans' $55,000.

In 2017, Martin was elected by his peers nationwide as president of the Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC),{{Cite web|url=http://10.31.15.92:8080/|title=ASDC|website=10.31.15.92|access-date=August 2, 2019}} and thereby became a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).{{Cite web|url=https://blog.4president.org/2020/2017/04/dnc-announces-new-officer-roles-and-responsibilities-including-ken-martin-of-minnesota-as-vice-chair.html|title=DNC Announces New Officer Roles and Responsibilities Including Ken Martin of Minnesota as Vice Chair|website=2020 Presidential Campaign Blog|access-date=August 2, 2019}} On January 21, 2021, Martin was unanimously reelected president of the ASDC.{{Cite web|date=January 21, 2021|title=DFL chair reelected to lead Association of State Democratic Committees|url=https://kstp.com/politics/dfl-chair-reelected-to-lead-association-of-state-democratic-committees-january-21-2021/5985496/|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=KSTP|language=en}} Upon his reelection, Martin pledged to continue "our important work of strengthening Democratic infrastructure across America".

{{Further|2025 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election}}

After Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election, Martin announced his intention to run for chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Some press called him the front-runner in the race; as of January 2025, he had the support of at least 200 members.{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2024 |title=Ken Martin emerges as early front-runner in race to lead Democrats as DNC chair |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/01/democrats-dnc-chair-race-debate-00191862 |newspaper=Politico|language=en|first1=Holly|last1=Otterbein|first2=Elena|last2=Schneider|access-date=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250107044549/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/01/democrats-dnc-chair-race-debate-00191862|archive-date=January 7, 2025|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/31/dnc-chair-election|title=DNC to elect new chair as party grapples with how to rebuild after 2024 losses|date=February 1, 2025|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Joan E.|last=Greve|access-date=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221135358/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/31/dnc-chair-election|archive-date=February 21, 2025|url-status=live}} During his campaign, Martin promised to focus on helping build the party's infrastructure across the country and U.S. territories, embarking on a "post-election review", bringing the party's message to new outlets, and going on offense against Trump and his policies. He was elected on February 1, 2025, receiving 246.5{{Clarification needed|reason=.5 votes? How can the number of votes have a decimal?|date=April 2025}} votes out of 428 cast on the first ballot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ken-martin-wins-election-chair-democratic-national-committee-rcna190018|title=Ken Martin wins election as the next chair of the Democratic National Committee|date=February 1, 2025|website=NBC News|first=Ben|last=Kamisar|access-date=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221140006/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ken-martin-wins-election-chair-democratic-national-committee-rcna190018|archive-date=February 21, 2025|url-status=live}}

In February 2025, Martin published his first memo as DNC chair, "Democrats Will Fight Against Trump's War on Working People". It warned that most Americans see the Democratic Party as the "party of the elites" and the Republican Party as the "party of the working class". The memo highlighted the Democratic Party's agenda regarding labor and unions, Project 2025, Elon Musk, and Trump's labor policies and cabinet appointments.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/dnc-chair-outlines-pro-worker-union-focus|title=DNC chair outlines pro-worker, union focus in first memo in fight against Trump|date=February 18, 2025|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Michael|last=Sainato|access-date=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250218115002/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/dnc-chair-outlines-pro-worker-union-focus|archive-date=February 18, 2025|url-status=live}} The same month, Martin started the "Organizing Everywhere" tour.{{Cite web|url=https://democrats.org/news/icymi-dnc-chair-ken-martin-kicks-off-organizing-everywhere-tour-across-blue-purple-and-red-states-as-first-official-trip-as-dnc-chair/|title=ICYMI: DNC Chair Ken Martin Kicks Off "Organizing Everywhere" Tour Across Blue, Purple, and Red States as First Official Trip as DNC Chair |date=February 17, 2025|publisher=Democrats|access-date=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221140344/https://democrats.org/news/icymi-dnc-chair-ken-martin-kicks-off-organizing-everywhere-tour-across-blue-purple-and-red-states-as-first-official-trip-as-dnc-chair/|archive-date=February 21, 2025|url-status=live}} Of the tour's purpose, he told NBC News: "It's time for the DNC to get out of D.C. That means getting out of our comfort zone, having tough but honest conversations with voters, and showing that we're willing to fight for people." He continued, "It's time for Democrats to show up in all 3,244 counties—red, purple, blue—to make our case."{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/new-dnc-chair-kicks-multistate-tour-takes-party-rcna192231|title=New DNC chair kicks off multistate tour as he takes over the party|date=February 17, 2025|newspaper=NBC News|first=Ben|last=Kamisar|access-date=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250217132548/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/new-dnc-chair-kicks-multistate-tour-takes-party-rcna192231|archive-date=February 17, 2025|url-status=live}} In an interview with The Nation, Martin said he was determined to increase the DNC's focus on raising money from small donors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/ken-martin-dnc-chair-election/|title=New DNC Chair Ken Martin Is Ready to Build a Bigger, Bolder Party|date=February 17, 2025|newspaper=The Nation|first=John|last=Nichols|access-date=February 5, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250205154620/https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/ken-martin-dnc-chair-election/|archive-date=February 5, 2025|url-status=live}}

Martin lives in Eagan, Minnesota, with his wife, Jennifer O'Rourke, and their two sons.{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2010 |title=Veteran political operative Ken Martin will seek state DFL post |url=https://www.twincities.com/2010/12/13/veteran-political-operative-ken-martin-will-seek-state-dfl-post/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220107203111/https://www.twincities.com/2010/12/13/veteran-political-operative-ken-martin-will-seek-state-dfl-post/ |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |access-date=January 7, 2022 |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press}} He is active in youth sports in Eagan, where he has served on the Eagan Athletic Association board of directors and as president of the Eagan Basketball Association.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

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Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Minnesota politicians

Category:Democratic National Committee chairs

Category:Minnesota Democrats

Category:People from Eagan, Minnesota

Category:State political party chairs of Minnesota

Category:University of Kansas alumni