I want to start by saying, I am paid by absolutely no one to say this. This is my own opinion based on my own knowledge and my own understanding of the world:
The donor and consultant class is working overtime to make you hate Ken Martin.
People are STILL talking about how they wish Ben Wikler had won DNC chair. Here’s a reminder, he was the establishment choice, which I think everyone glossed over, either intentionally or accidentally. Wikler was endorsed by Chuck Schumer AND Nancy Pelosi. They knew Martin would shake things up, and shake things up he has.
Martin has been working on several big projects, none of which make him popular with the consultant or donor class.
One of them is getting super PAC money out of Dem primaries by 2028. Your focus is on AIPAC, his focus is on ALL Super PACs. You know who doesn’t like that? The people who run Super PACs.
Another is Scam PACs, You know, those texts you get that look like they’re from the DNC or a Dem candidate but aren’t? Yeah, he’s been cracking down on those.
He also is working on getting rid of the “consultant class,” you know who that pisses off? The consultant class.
And then there’s his plans to win elections.
His mantra is “organize everywhere so we can win anywhere.” And he does mean EVERYWHERE. This is a 57 state and territory platform.
The DNC is focusing on investing in red states that normally don’t get DNC attention. Every single Republican controlled state party is getting an additional $5k on top of the $17.5k all states is getting. You wonder why they don’t have money? This is why. They’re using their money to invest directly in local elections.
They’re also investing in down ballot races in a way they haven’t before. If you look at Martin’s social media, you don’t have to scroll very far back to see him knocking doors for local races all over the country.
Martin, not just his team, but Martin himself.
And then there’s the shift in how to talk to voters. They took what didn’t work in 2024 and are changing their Playbook as a result. A Playbook that, by the way was organized and written by a Black woman named Shelby Wiltz who is the DNC Political Director.
They’re working with southern states on how to fight back against the Republican power grab and have been doing so since day 1. Martin and Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta will be headlining the 2026 Hamer-Winter Dinner, a massive event for the Mississippi Dem Party.
Vice Chair Shasti Conrad was at the Teamsters National Black Caucus Memphis Delta Chapter’s gala speaking with Black union leaders.
Vice Chair Artie Blanco was speaking to Texas Democratic Women Harris County Metro General Meeting.
And Vice Chair for Civic Engagement and Voter Participation, Reyna Walters- Morgan has been focused on voter rights in North Carolina.
And there’s more. I could talk about Martin going to union conferences and meetings. Or the new local listening program to understand why some of those who voted for Biden didn’t vote for Kamala and instead stayed home. Or Martin’s commitment to stay out of primaries. This is Martin’s record.
And there’s not more for the vice chairs because..no one writes articles about their successes. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Yes we are winning elections because Republicans are super fucking unpopular, but it’s ALSO because this DNC is putting in the work. They are putting in the time and money and research to make it happen.
So knowing ALL of that, let’s talk about the autopsy. I will say, my opinion isn’t popular even with my contacts at the DNC — I don’t think it’s a bad thing that the autopsy hasn’t been released.
I think people are looking for a reason to distrust the Democrats and I think a 200 page document explaining what went wrong in 2024 is a perfect reason. I think unless it says EXACTLY what every leftist wants to hear, It won’t be received well. And I don’t think it does say what they want to hear.
From what I’ve heard, the vast majority is about not investing enough in local communities, and guess what Martin is focusing on? That’s right, local communities. And guess what’s the main focus of the Playbook mentioned above? That’s right, local communities.
I agree, the interview was awful. He needed interview prep, for starters, and frankly, not to go on a podcast made up of members of the consultant class at all. And, he never should have made a promise he couldn’t keep.
But, I genuinely don’t think another chair would have made a different decision. Opening ourselves up to that kind of opposition research is deadly. ESPECIALLY in a year like this one, when we need as big a tent as possible.
The consultant class and the donor class don’t like Martin because Martin doesn’t much like them. They are the ones writing these articles and posting these takes on social media and everyone who hates the Democrats just on principal is falling for it hook line and sinker. Same thing happened with Howard Dean who he pioneered the 50 state strategy, by the way, they tried to oust him too.
If Martin were replaced, it would not be with your perfect Progressive candidate (which Martin isn’t that far from), it would be with someone more like David Plouffe or Rahm Emmanuel. This dissatisfaction with Martin is playing DIRECTLY into their hands. The louder it is, the more likely we WILL be headed back to the status quo, and probably lose elections in the process.
The DNC is a fundraising apparatus, first and foremost. It SHOULD NOT BE your main focus. They have a job to do, they are not supposed to be cool, they are just supposed to quietly do the work.
Now, since you know where your money is going, maybe consider donating, cause, they really do need more funding to continue this work.
This whole fucking thing is a huge distraction. The goal is to win elections. This drama is not helping us do that at all.