Ken Martin and Kamala Harris Emerged Victorious on Saturday, While Billionaires and Establishment Figures Faced Setbacks.
Democrats are vowing to adopt a fresh approach in the Trump era. However, they fell short in addressing more profound issues confronting the party.
TroibNews 
Top Democratic officials and billionaire donors discovered their influence paled in comparison to party insiders at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Saturday, as they opted for Ken Martin as their new chair over establishment favorite Ben Wikler of Wisconsin.
Both Martin and Wikler did not promise significant changes to the party. With Martin's selection, Democrats avoided addressing the core issues they face in navigating out of a challenging political landscape.
During the election held in a hotel ballroom at National Harbor, Maryland, Martin, a seasoned tactician and leader of the Minnesota state party, was chosen. He notably stated during his campaign that the party has “the right message.”
Despite last year's electoral setbacks, Democrats seem convinced they've always had the correct approach. Kamala Harris emerged as a significant figure in the DNC proceedings, indicating that she retains considerable influence.
Here are five key takeaways from a contest characterized by traditional political maneuvering rather than ideological disputes or high-profile candidates.
**Billionaires — and big names — take a hit**
The DNC’s prominence has waned since Barack Obama's presidency, but Martin's election signaled a clear message to the party’s power brokers: many believe leading billionaires and well-known elected officials are disconnected from the party's base.
The most significant blow fell on Democratic billionaires who were eager to see Wikler ascend to the role. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and George Soros' Democracy PAC each contributed $250,000 to FORWARD PAC, which supported Wikler, accounting for over three-quarters of his campaign's total funding, as per a Federal Election Commission filing.
Numerous major figures in the party, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and high-profile governors like Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Andy Beshear of Kentucky, also backed Wikler. Nonetheless, DNC voting members sided with Martin, and notably, Harris did not endorse a candidate.
**Harris is still a force**
Before the vote, Harris engaged in 15 to 20 minute calls with the three leading candidates, expressing her eagerness to work "closely with the winning candidate as soon as they are elected.” This strategic decision allowed her to maintain neutrality in a tightly contested race.
Harris's popularity was evident on Saturday, as she garnered enthusiastic applause from party members, even more so than Biden, who also delivered a pre-recorded message. Additionally, she joined other prominent Democrats in pledging to raise funds for the DNC in the coming weeks and months, underscoring her continued significance within the party.
**Democrats want to make the DNC matter again**
Historically, the DNC has functioned more as a logistical entity than a visionary body. However, in the absence of control over the White House or Congress, some Democrats are seeking to reinvigorate the DNC’s importance.
In recent days, various party leaders, including Harris, former President Obama, and potential 2028 candidates such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, pledged fundraising support for the DNC. This indicates a collective commitment to revitalizing the party through the DNC as a significant political apparatus. After his election, Martin conveyed a message of renewal, insisting, “This is a new DNC. We’re taking the gloves off.”
Martin expressed his philosophy as chair: “I've always viewed my role as a chair of the Democratic Party to take the low road, so my candidates and elected officials can take the high road, meaning, I'm going to throw a punch.”
**Diversity takes a back seat**
Despite the Democratic Party's focus on diversity, Martin's selection marks the first time since 2011 that the DNC will not be led by a woman or a person of color. At the meeting, no female or minority candidates emerged as front-runners, with Marianne Williamson suspending her campaign and endorsing Martin. Late entrant Faiz Shakir secured only two votes, while Quintessa Hathaway, who is Black, failed to receive any votes.
This outcome disappointed some DNC members, prompting concerns that the representation of women and people of color would be diminished in party leadership. Marilyn Davis, a longtime political operative and former DNC staffer, lamented, "Black women have always been the backbone of our party... Yet time and time again, we are overlooked when it comes to the top leadership positions in our party.” Delegate Trish Ruiz from New Mexico expressed her desire for a “bigger name female” candidate to have run.
**Next up: The primary calendar battle**
As Democrats move towards 2028, they had already planned to reevaluate their nominating calendar, and with a new chair appointed, that process begins now. Martin has pledged not to bias the selection of early voting states and emphasized the importance of a “fair and transparent” process that would provide a diverse lineup of candidates.
However, New Hampshire still enforces a law mandating its primary be held a week before others. The state's Democrats resist changes to this law, and Republicans managing the state government share this stance.
Consequently, Martin may face the same stalemate as his predecessor after Biden elevated South Carolina to the premier position in 2024. That situation led to internal conflict within the party, culminating in New Hampshire’s defiance against DNC regulations, resulting in Biden’s unconventional write-in campaign victory and subsequent sanctions on the state’s delegates. With a more open candidate field anticipated for 2028, the potential for disorder looms large.
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley, an early supporter of Martin, voiced confidence in Martin’s commitment to ensuring each state gets a “fair shot” in the primary calendar. “We don't need any special favors. But we don't need somebody putting their thumb on the scale against us, either,” Buckley stated.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
Both Martin and Wikler did not promise significant changes to the party. With Martin's selection, Democrats avoided addressing the core issues they face in navigating out of a challenging political landscape.
During the election held in a hotel ballroom at National Harbor, Maryland, Martin, a seasoned tactician and leader of the Minnesota state party, was chosen. He notably stated during his campaign that the party has “the right message.”
Despite last year's electoral setbacks, Democrats seem convinced they've always had the correct approach. Kamala Harris emerged as a significant figure in the DNC proceedings, indicating that she retains considerable influence.
Here are five key takeaways from a contest characterized by traditional political maneuvering rather than ideological disputes or high-profile candidates.
**Billionaires — and big names — take a hit**
The DNC’s prominence has waned since Barack Obama's presidency, but Martin's election signaled a clear message to the party’s power brokers: many believe leading billionaires and well-known elected officials are disconnected from the party's base.
The most significant blow fell on Democratic billionaires who were eager to see Wikler ascend to the role. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and George Soros' Democracy PAC each contributed $250,000 to FORWARD PAC, which supported Wikler, accounting for over three-quarters of his campaign's total funding, as per a Federal Election Commission filing.
Numerous major figures in the party, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and high-profile governors like Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Andy Beshear of Kentucky, also backed Wikler. Nonetheless, DNC voting members sided with Martin, and notably, Harris did not endorse a candidate.
**Harris is still a force**
Before the vote, Harris engaged in 15 to 20 minute calls with the three leading candidates, expressing her eagerness to work "closely with the winning candidate as soon as they are elected.” This strategic decision allowed her to maintain neutrality in a tightly contested race.
Harris's popularity was evident on Saturday, as she garnered enthusiastic applause from party members, even more so than Biden, who also delivered a pre-recorded message. Additionally, she joined other prominent Democrats in pledging to raise funds for the DNC in the coming weeks and months, underscoring her continued significance within the party.
**Democrats want to make the DNC matter again**
Historically, the DNC has functioned more as a logistical entity than a visionary body. However, in the absence of control over the White House or Congress, some Democrats are seeking to reinvigorate the DNC’s importance.
In recent days, various party leaders, including Harris, former President Obama, and potential 2028 candidates such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, pledged fundraising support for the DNC. This indicates a collective commitment to revitalizing the party through the DNC as a significant political apparatus. After his election, Martin conveyed a message of renewal, insisting, “This is a new DNC. We’re taking the gloves off.”
Martin expressed his philosophy as chair: “I've always viewed my role as a chair of the Democratic Party to take the low road, so my candidates and elected officials can take the high road, meaning, I'm going to throw a punch.”
**Diversity takes a back seat**
Despite the Democratic Party's focus on diversity, Martin's selection marks the first time since 2011 that the DNC will not be led by a woman or a person of color. At the meeting, no female or minority candidates emerged as front-runners, with Marianne Williamson suspending her campaign and endorsing Martin. Late entrant Faiz Shakir secured only two votes, while Quintessa Hathaway, who is Black, failed to receive any votes.
This outcome disappointed some DNC members, prompting concerns that the representation of women and people of color would be diminished in party leadership. Marilyn Davis, a longtime political operative and former DNC staffer, lamented, "Black women have always been the backbone of our party... Yet time and time again, we are overlooked when it comes to the top leadership positions in our party.” Delegate Trish Ruiz from New Mexico expressed her desire for a “bigger name female” candidate to have run.
**Next up: The primary calendar battle**
As Democrats move towards 2028, they had already planned to reevaluate their nominating calendar, and with a new chair appointed, that process begins now. Martin has pledged not to bias the selection of early voting states and emphasized the importance of a “fair and transparent” process that would provide a diverse lineup of candidates.
However, New Hampshire still enforces a law mandating its primary be held a week before others. The state's Democrats resist changes to this law, and Republicans managing the state government share this stance.
Consequently, Martin may face the same stalemate as his predecessor after Biden elevated South Carolina to the premier position in 2024. That situation led to internal conflict within the party, culminating in New Hampshire’s defiance against DNC regulations, resulting in Biden’s unconventional write-in campaign victory and subsequent sanctions on the state’s delegates. With a more open candidate field anticipated for 2028, the potential for disorder looms large.
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley, an early supporter of Martin, voiced confidence in Martin’s commitment to ensuring each state gets a “fair shot” in the primary calendar. “We don't need any special favors. But we don't need somebody putting their thumb on the scale against us, either,” Buckley stated.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
