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Minnesota DFL Party chairman Ken Martin is officially 

 to become the head of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). 

The current chair decided not to run for reelection after the party saw major losses earlier this month, including the defeat Kamala Harris for president. Democrats also lost control of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin announces bid to lead national Democratic Party

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley entered the ring for DNC chair on Monday. The Wisconsin party chair is “seriously thinking” of a run, 

. Experts expect the race will grow more contested.

Reid J. Epstein, a reporter with The New York Times, 

, who argued Democratic losses can be attributed to their message failing to land with voters.

“[Martin] argued that Donald Trump and Republicans played almost a bait-and-switch with Democrats and said that voters had their eye taken off the ball on what was really important in this election, in what sounded to me like was an implicit criticism of the Harris campaign for not focusing on the economic issues,” Epstein told MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer.

Martin published an op-ed in Fox News this week

, suggesting how his party should reconnect with rural Americans. On Tuesday’s All Things Considered on MPR News, Martin posed the question for DNC voters: “Do you want a show horse or a work horse? Do you want someone who’s actually built a successful party, who’s turned around a party like the Minnesota DFL and has built it into probably one of the strongest state parties in the nation, or do you want someone who’s using this as a platform to get on TV and essentially talk about the issue?” 

Epstein told MPR News both Republicans and Democrats have been energized by past losses to find a “compelling, charismatic presidential candidate who can win the hearts and minds of voters who aren’t necessarily tied to one party or the other.” That proved true with Barack Obama in 2008, Bill Clinton in 1992 and Donald Trump in 2016. 

The election of the new DNC chair is expected to take place early next year.

Listen to Epstein’s full interview with Wurzer by clicking on the player button.

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Reid Epstein, a reporter with The New York Times, 

, who argued Democrats’ downfall was their message failing to land with voters ahead of the 2024 election. 

Reid Epstein, a reporter with The New York Times, spoke with Martin, who argued Democrats’ downfall was their message failing to land with voters ahead of the 2024 election. 


Listen: New York Times reporter Reid Epstein on Ken Martin's bid for DNC chair

A man speaks on the floor of the DNC near the Minnesota sign.

Listen: New York Times reporter Reid Epstein on Ken Martin’s bid for DNC chair

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