Summary

Ken Martin, chair of Minnesota’s Democratic–Farmer–Labor party, won the race to lead the Democratic National Committee, defeating Wisconsin’s Ben Wikler.

Martin takes over as Democrats grapple with major losses in the 2024 elections and seek to reconnect with working-class voters.

Supporters see his leadership as key to rebuilding the party, while critics worry it signals a continuation of the status quo.

His first major test will be the 2026 midterms as Democrats attempt to reclaim the House and rebuild their electoral strategy.

  • hddsx
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    14 hours ago

    As a non Democrat, why would Democrats try to pull away republicans when republicans have been playing politics like a team game?

    Build your own damn team and give them a reason to be on your team.

    Biden and Harris only got my votes because Trump has shown himself to be a piece of shit and Republicans are either throwing a blind eye or playing along in his game or Nazi.

    • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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      13 hours ago

      As a non Democrat, why would Democrats try to pull away republicans when republicans have been playing politics like a team game?

      No disagreement from me.

      Build your own damn team and give them a reason to be on your team.

      Yep

      Biden and Harris only got my votes because Trump has shown himself to be a piece of shit and Republicans are either throwing a blind eye or playing along in his game or Nazi.

      Yep. But we can’t sink any lower, so that was the last time. If we get another election, they need to inspire me with something better than just being less conservative than the Nazi party.

      • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        Yep. But we can’t sink any lower, so that was the last time.

        As long as Republicans move to the right, Democrats will too.

    • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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      12 hours ago

      As a non Democrat, why would Democrats try to pull away republicans when republicans have been playing politics like a team game?

      Because the alternative involves treating the left flank of the party like they are human beings with agency.

    • riverSpirit@thelemmy.club
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      12 hours ago

      Because they took leftist votes for granted.

      Dems always expect the left to fall in line and back them, hence why they feel they are free to consistently move further right rather than to appeal to the wishes of their voters, because after all, what are the leftists going to do, vote Trump?

    • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      Harris lost in 2024 because Latino and Gen Z males who voted for Biden in 2020 swung to Trump in 2024.

      Those voters are centrist/independents, and identify as neither Democrat nor Republican. They voted Democrat in 2020 and Democrats need to win them back in 2028.

      • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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        7 hours ago

        Anyone who still thinks “capture the center” is how politics works when Donald Trump enthusiastically diving to the right beat Kamala Harris campaigning with actual Republicans isn’t willing to update their priors with new information.

        • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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          7 hours ago

          It didn’t work for Kamala Harris. But it’s how Biden beat Trump. And it worked for over 20 sitting Democratic governors, one of whom will very likely be the next Democratic nominee.

          • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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            7 hours ago

            There weren’t even 20 governors up for reelection and most of them weren’t competitive. You’re literally just making up data to support a conclusion that blatantly contradicts actual real life.

            • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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              7 hours ago

              One of those governors will likely be the next Democratic nominee. And they all have a history of running as centrists. Not just in 2024, but in all of their previous campaigns.

              Newsom, Pritzker, Beshear, Shapiro, etc aren’t going to spontaneously embrace socialism in 2028. And I’m sorry to disappoint you, but an 82 year old Bernie Sanders won’t be running in 2028.

                • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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                  3 hours ago

                  My only point is that the 2028 nominee is likely a current Democratic governor.

                  And if you don’t believe that, then you’re the one who isn’t paying attention to the political landscape.

        • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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          9 hours ago

          Not this time. But Obama and Clinton successfully ran as a centrists, and I expect Democrats will try again in the future.

            • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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              4 hours ago

              They should only change if a different approach were proven to work better.

              Practically speaking, that means leftists need to consistently win gubernatorial elections before a leftist can become a presidential nominee.

              • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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                4 hours ago

                They should only change if a different approach were proven to work better.

                Sounds like an excuse to never try another approach.

                Practically speaking, that means leftists need to consistently win gubernatorial elections before a leftist can become a presidential nominee.

                I wonder what the new goalpost will be when the party’s best efforts are longer sufficient to keep progressives out of gubernatorial races.

                • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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                  3 hours ago

                  I don’t think requiring evidence is an “excuse”. And so far there is little evidence that leftists can win statewide elections, which is a prerequisite for winning the presidency.

                  Conversely, if leftists start consistently winning elections then there is little that the party can do to stop them. That’s basically how MAGA took over the GOP.