NEW YORK — On Saturday, the Democratic National Committee will host an election for a new chair, as the party looks for fresh leadership to navigate the challenges of Donald Trump’s potential second presidency. Outgoing Chair Jaime Harrison will be succeeded by one of the eight candidates vying for the position during the DNC’s winter meeting in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
While this election may not seem extravagant, significant issues concerning funding, strategy, and representation lie ahead. The leading contenders include Ken Martin from Minnesota and Ben Wikler from Wisconsin, both of whom serve as state party chairs and share a common approach to leadership without committing to pronounced changes. Other candidates, such as Faiz Shakir, former chief of Bernie Sanders’ campaign, and Marianne Williamson, a past presidential candidate, are perceived as having slim chances of winning.
Discussions among candidates have centered on the fundamentals of political campaigning, focusing on messaging, media outreach, fundraising, and grassroots organizing. On these pivotal topics, there’s a consensus about the necessity for reform to elevate the party’s image, particularly among working-class voters.
The voting for the new chair is anticipated to occur on Saturday afternoon and will be available for streaming via the DNC’s YouTube channel.
Regarding the candidates, many believe the race essentially narrows down to Martin, 51, and Wikler, 43, who are the clear frontrunners. Both candidates have garnered a favorable reputation among the DNC’s 448 voting members, composed mainly of state officials. Other participants in the race include activist and author Williamson, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, and Shakir, who previously managed Sanders’ presidential campaign.
With no prominent elected official or charismatic figure in the mix, there seems to be a desire for a candidate with operative experience who is committed to the essential yet unspectacular efforts of establishing state party foundations. Martin has vowed to be the “organizer in chief” if elected, while Wikler advocates for an actively engaged political strategy across all 50 states. As one DNC insider remarked, the party is looking for a detail-oriented leader.
The significance of this election cannot be overstated. The Democratic Party currently faces a crisis. With Trump stretching the limits of presidential authority and no clear leader or strategy to counteract the Republican agenda, the party’s next chair will play a critical role in rising to these challenges. This individual will not only represent the party in the media but will also influence message crafting, strategic planning, and the allocation of significant political donations.
The responsibilities of the DNC chair are daunting. Democratic leaders have yet to reach a consensus on the missteps that led to their loss of the popular vote for the first time in two decades, as well as the concerning defections among young voters, African Americans, Latinos, and working-class whites. The leading candidates signal intentions to adopt innovative media strategies and bolster grassroots organizing, reminiscent of former Chair Howard Dean’s “50-state strategy.” This pledge comes despite the party’s substantial advantages in funding and staffing in the previous election cycle, which did little to avert Trump’s success.
Another important consideration for the next chair will be organizing the upcoming presidential primary. Conversations are already taking place regarding the 2028 contest, which is expected to attract numerous high-profile candidates.
Fundraising has become a key point of contention among the candidates. Wikler benefits from the backing of billionaire donor Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn, and has the support of several governors and congressional members. Nevertheless, Democrats in Washington are actively critiquing Trump’s favorable connections with billionaires in his administration. Some of Wikler’s competitors suggest that his ties with wealthy Democratic donors could complicate the party’s narrative against Trump’s associations with the affluent, which the party claims detrimentally affects American interests.
Fundraising is undeniably a critical element of the chairperson’s responsibilities. Wikler’s team emphasizes that under his leadership, the Wisconsin state party has raised $183 million since 2019, which is significantly more than the amount raised by Minnesota’s state party during Martin’s tenure.
As for the issue of diversity, the DNC has been led by individuals of color or women since 2011, demonstrating the party’s commitment to its varied membership. If either Martin or Wikler emerges victorious, this trend will shift, marking a return to white male leadership for the first time since Virginia Senator Tim Kaine held the position during President Barack Obama’s first term.
Some members assert that this change is coincidental. However, there is an underlying recognition of the disillusionment among working-class white men, including many union members, who have been drifting toward the Republican party under Trump. Additionally, Black and Latino men have also shown a tendency to shift conservatively in recent elections.
It remains unclear whether Martin or Wikler will alter the party’s focus regarding issues affecting people of color and LGBTQ+ rights, particularly on issues such as transgender rights, which were heavily campaigned on by Republicans in the last election to portray Democrats as disconnected from the values of the working class. Although neither candidate is advocating for significant policy changes, they both seem committed to advancing a message centered around working-class economic populism.
