'Minnesota nice has 2 sides': Some Dems view Ken Martin as a ruthless leader
An examination of how a discreet Midwestern strategist gained dominion over the Democratic Party's structure.
TroibNews 
During his two-month campaign for the chair of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin diligently navigated through a call sheet of the committee’s 448 members, frequently engaging on the phone for as long as one or two hours, often until late into the evening.
This extensive, behind-the-scenes work is what Martin excelled at during his leadership of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and the Association of State Democratic Parties, where he earned a reputation as a calm strategist with a strong Midwestern work ethic.
However, there’s a different aspect of Martin that both Democrats and Martin himself appeared to acknowledge during his first press remarks as chair after defeating Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, who had support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. One anonymous DNC member noted his capacity to be a “knife-fighter.”
“Minnesota nice has two sides: Minnesota nice is a pleasant, earnest ability to engage with people publicly, and it is also a private ruthlessness and a coldness that only comes when you’ve lived in 10-degree-below weather half your life,” said John Bisognano, a former colleague of Martin’s at the ASDC. “Ken will cut you if he has to, but that ruthlessness is what we need to achieve electoral success.”
In his initial comments as chair, Martin expressed a desire to adopt a stronger stance, saying, “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.” He indicated that he would take a different approach than the previous chair, Jaime Harrison, stating, “This is a new DNC” and that “we’re taking the gloves off.”
Martin steps into this role amidst a leadership vacuum for the party as Democrats prepare for the 2025 elections, having recently experienced significant setbacks. They find themselves lacking power in Washington and needing to reestablish their presence during Donald Trump’s second term without a Democrat in the White House to guide the party’s narrative. Martin’s influence will be crucial in shaping the 2028 presidential primary, including aspects like debate qualifications and the nominating calendar. He also promised to publish a post-mortem analysis of the 2024 election, something the DNC failed to do after its 2016 loss.
Despite his victory, Martin faces skepticism. “Yes, he's a knife-fighter, but the problem is, a lot of people in this room feel like that knife is in their backs,” remarked another DNC member who did not support him. While Martin won the job, the member noted, “he didn’t necessarily win everyone’s trust.”
Wikler was viewed by some as a reformer capable of transforming the DNC into a more formidable entity, while a third anonymous DNC member characterized Martin as someone who possesses “institutional knowledge” but who is part of a group that has historically resisted necessary change.
“We are so bound up by people whose only quest for relevance is the DNC title,” the member added.
Even supporters acknowledge that Martin has been aspiring to the chair position “for years,” as described by Ray Buckley, the New Hampshire Democratic Party chair. Martin’s deep knowledge of the party machinery, according to Ron Harris, a DNC member from Minnesota, is a significant asset: “He literally understands all of the levers, all the ways the resources move, all the relationships with people who make it move.”
Harris added, “He knows where the bodies are buried.” However, Martin's history with DNC leadership has not been without conflict. He was involved in significant disputes in 2018 regarding control of voter data with then-Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez accusing him of undermining party unity.
An operative familiar with those discussions expressed, “I would hope that he brings that same loyalty to his new constituency, a broader constituency, that he now has as chair.”
On the other hand, Buckley asserted that some establishment figures in the party “are still not over the fact that Ken pushed back.” Meanwhile, Mike Schmuhl, chair of the Indiana Democratic Party, commended Martin for enhancing the stature of the ASDC in advocacy discussions.
Martin’s drive may stem from his upbringing as the son of a single mother, raised in challenging circumstances. “We were in and out of shelters. We knew what poverty felt like,” he shared with DNC members. “Because my mom gave a damn about me and because my community gave a damn about my family, it meant we had a chance.”
Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb, another supporter, noted that Martin’s struggles have shaped his leadership style.
His political journey began in 1998 as a staffer during a challenging period for Democrats. By the time he became chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in 2011, he orchestrated a 10-year recovery plan that revitalized the party.
“He ran the DFL with an iron fist, was very impressive,” commented a Democratic strategist who wished to remain anonymous, adding, “He’s like Stalin, and I say that as a compliment.”
Nevertheless, there are doubts about whether he can achieve a similar revitalization on a larger scale. Concerns linger about a dissatisfied donor class, many of whom were supporters of Wikler.
“The delegates wanted Ken, and that must be completely respected. It wasn't a close race," said a Democratic donor adviser. "However, the donors wanted Ben, and they will make the delegates and the new chair painfully aware of that fact over the course of the next four years.”
Holly Otterbein contributed to this report.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
This extensive, behind-the-scenes work is what Martin excelled at during his leadership of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and the Association of State Democratic Parties, where he earned a reputation as a calm strategist with a strong Midwestern work ethic.
However, there’s a different aspect of Martin that both Democrats and Martin himself appeared to acknowledge during his first press remarks as chair after defeating Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, who had support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. One anonymous DNC member noted his capacity to be a “knife-fighter.”
“Minnesota nice has two sides: Minnesota nice is a pleasant, earnest ability to engage with people publicly, and it is also a private ruthlessness and a coldness that only comes when you’ve lived in 10-degree-below weather half your life,” said John Bisognano, a former colleague of Martin’s at the ASDC. “Ken will cut you if he has to, but that ruthlessness is what we need to achieve electoral success.”
In his initial comments as chair, Martin expressed a desire to adopt a stronger stance, saying, “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.” He indicated that he would take a different approach than the previous chair, Jaime Harrison, stating, “This is a new DNC” and that “we’re taking the gloves off.”
Martin steps into this role amidst a leadership vacuum for the party as Democrats prepare for the 2025 elections, having recently experienced significant setbacks. They find themselves lacking power in Washington and needing to reestablish their presence during Donald Trump’s second term without a Democrat in the White House to guide the party’s narrative. Martin’s influence will be crucial in shaping the 2028 presidential primary, including aspects like debate qualifications and the nominating calendar. He also promised to publish a post-mortem analysis of the 2024 election, something the DNC failed to do after its 2016 loss.
Despite his victory, Martin faces skepticism. “Yes, he's a knife-fighter, but the problem is, a lot of people in this room feel like that knife is in their backs,” remarked another DNC member who did not support him. While Martin won the job, the member noted, “he didn’t necessarily win everyone’s trust.”
Wikler was viewed by some as a reformer capable of transforming the DNC into a more formidable entity, while a third anonymous DNC member characterized Martin as someone who possesses “institutional knowledge” but who is part of a group that has historically resisted necessary change.
“We are so bound up by people whose only quest for relevance is the DNC title,” the member added.
Even supporters acknowledge that Martin has been aspiring to the chair position “for years,” as described by Ray Buckley, the New Hampshire Democratic Party chair. Martin’s deep knowledge of the party machinery, according to Ron Harris, a DNC member from Minnesota, is a significant asset: “He literally understands all of the levers, all the ways the resources move, all the relationships with people who make it move.”
Harris added, “He knows where the bodies are buried.” However, Martin's history with DNC leadership has not been without conflict. He was involved in significant disputes in 2018 regarding control of voter data with then-Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez accusing him of undermining party unity.
An operative familiar with those discussions expressed, “I would hope that he brings that same loyalty to his new constituency, a broader constituency, that he now has as chair.”
On the other hand, Buckley asserted that some establishment figures in the party “are still not over the fact that Ken pushed back.” Meanwhile, Mike Schmuhl, chair of the Indiana Democratic Party, commended Martin for enhancing the stature of the ASDC in advocacy discussions.
Martin’s drive may stem from his upbringing as the son of a single mother, raised in challenging circumstances. “We were in and out of shelters. We knew what poverty felt like,” he shared with DNC members. “Because my mom gave a damn about me and because my community gave a damn about my family, it meant we had a chance.”
Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb, another supporter, noted that Martin’s struggles have shaped his leadership style.
His political journey began in 1998 as a staffer during a challenging period for Democrats. By the time he became chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in 2011, he orchestrated a 10-year recovery plan that revitalized the party.
“He ran the DFL with an iron fist, was very impressive,” commented a Democratic strategist who wished to remain anonymous, adding, “He’s like Stalin, and I say that as a compliment.”
Nevertheless, there are doubts about whether he can achieve a similar revitalization on a larger scale. Concerns linger about a dissatisfied donor class, many of whom were supporters of Wikler.
“The delegates wanted Ken, and that must be completely respected. It wasn't a close race," said a Democratic donor adviser. "However, the donors wanted Ben, and they will make the delegates and the new chair painfully aware of that fact over the course of the next four years.”
Holly Otterbein contributed to this report.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
