Ken Martin reflects on Democrats' historic win, eyes the work ahead for his party
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Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, has experienced both political highs and lows during his rise to one of the party’s most prominent leadership roles.
The longtime chair of the Minnesota DFL took on the national assignment after his party was shellshocked from a poor 2024 showing. Martin had doubters along the way, including some who suggested Martin step aside. Then came the 2026 election — the party's best showing in many decades.
“This just this was the largest midterm election cycle in the 198-year history of the Democratic Party,” Martin told MPR News host Clay Masters. “I knew this would be a difficult job, but we had to win, and we won — and we won big.”
Martin says President Donald Trump's policies motivated people to vote against Republicans, but the Minnesota native says voters were also swayed by strong Democratic candidates. Now they need to prove themselves.
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"If we deliver on those promises and stand up and fight for them, then I believe that people are going to continue to stand with Democrats,” said Martin. “Whether Trump's on the ballot or not, Trumpism will still be on the ballot because every one of the heir appearance in the Republican Party is a Trump acolyte."
Martin says Republicans are embracing the same approach that cost them politically in recent years.
“Both by the ascension of Stephen Miller as the new chief of staff and the election of Jim Jordan as the new House Minority Leader, it does not suggest to me that they are trying to course correct and find common ground with Democrats,” said Martin. “Everything we're seeing out of the Republicans right now is that they're going to double down on these failed strategies of the last two years.”
Across the country, Democrats won majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, as well as many governor's races and key contests around the country. The Democratic win is now boosting a movement to end the electoral college and adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
The compact would move the country away from deciding the presidency through the traditional Electoral College format.
"I do believe passionately that we need to abolish the electoral college, it's antiquated,” Martin explained. “There's no purpose for it. But absent a constitutional amendment, which does not seem likely, the best way to do that is through the National Popular Vote Compact."
Minnesota is among 18 states part of the compact so far. Once enough states to elect a president sign on, it would award their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote.
More states could join after Democrats gained control of more legislatures.
Click the audio player above to listen to the conversation.
