(NewsNation) — With the 2024 election cycle in the rearview mirror, Democrats are searching for new leadership as they look towards the 2026 midterm and next presidential elections in 2028.
Two candidates, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Minnesota Democratic Chair Ken Martin, have already declared they’re running for chair of the Democratic National Committee.
A source familiar with his thinking tells NewsNation that Wisconsin Democratic Chair Ben Wikler is also seriously considering entering the race.
In a post on the social media platform X, O’Malley wrote, “We must connect our Party with the most important place in America — the kitchen table of every family’s home. Jobs, Opportunity, and Economic Security for all. Getting things done. Hope. A 50-state strategy. Now.”
The 50-state strategy is one that former DNC Chair Howard Dean subscribed to during his tenure from 2005 to 2009. The strategy committed money and helped build up party infrastructure in every state, even those that reliably voted Republican in presidential races, to create Democratic victories at all levels of government.
O’Malley, who ran for president in 2016, was the commissioner of the Social Security Administration until stepping down yesterday to run for DNC chair. His resignation from the SSA will be effective on November 29.
Martin has been chair of the Minnesota Democrats since 2011. He’s also president of the Association of State Democratic Committees and a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.
In a post on X, Martin pointed out that he’s not from the Beltway, instead saying, “I’m not a DC insider, but I know how the DNC works—and how it isn’t working. We’ve got to reconnect our popular ideas to our party.” In his announcement video, Martin touted some of his successes as chair, including the fact that under his leadership, Democrats have won every statewide election: twenty-two in a row.
He also noted that Minnesota is “the last of the blue wall states still standing.” Minnesota voted for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in November’s election. All three of the main blue wall states — Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — voted for President-elect Donald Trump.
That’s not stopping Wikler from considering a run for chair as well. Trump’s victory in Wisconsin was the smallest of any state that he won. In down-ballot races, Wisconsin also resisted a big swing to the right, which helped Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin keep her seat. Democrats also won state senate races that broke the Republican supermajority.
While Republicans still maintain a majority in the state senate, Democrats see a chance to change that in 2026 with these recent wins. In addition, last year, a more liberal candidate won a seat on the state Supreme Court, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers won reelection. Should Wikler run, his track record of winning close races will undoubtedly help him gain support.
Multiple outlets have also reported that the current U.S. ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, has also expressed interest in running for the position.
The new chair is expected to be chosen by DNC members — approximately 450 — early next year.
