Ken Martin Is a Terrible DNC Chair

[applegrove]

Ken Martin Is a Terrible DNC Chair

April 29, 2026 at 5:56 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 37 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2026/04/29/ken-martin-is-a-terrible-dnc-chair/

Matthew Yglesias: “I’m not a fundraising guru and I don’t know exactly why Martin is flailing at this. But in a big picture sense, the chair is normally someone with demonstrated fundraising skills and donor connections and/or someone who is enthusiastically backed by major party figures who are themselves big donor favorites.”

“Martin isn’t either of those things, and he also isn’t a factional favorite of progressive small donors. He’s a guy who got the job primarily by having a lot of support inside the world of state party committees rather than in the broader Democratic Party universe.”

“He apparently didn’t do much to make calls or hold meetings with major donors and is somewhat paranoid about his opponents in a way that makes it hard to build bridges.”

[SocialDemocrat61]

1. When is his term up?

If Dems underperform in the midterms, he’ll be out.

[msongs]

2. raising money bad. Martin not raising money...bad. nt

[AZProgressive]

3. I would agree except it is Yglesias saying this

I often disagree with what he has to say and this is one of those times.

It depends on how Democrats do in elections and so far they are doing well.

[oasis]

4. Terry Mcaullife he ain't.

[Lonestarblue]

5. Does anyone ever hear from Martin?

He seems like an old school politician trying to do things that worked 20 years ago. He especially listens to me when he forced Hogg out of the DNC role. We need younger voters, and Martin essentially said we don't like your ideas that appeal to younger voters.

Why can the DNC not attract some major talent like Stacy Abrams?

[walkingman]

6. Be Better!! ☮