Ken Martin

The third thing I would say that state parties do that the national party doesn't do, which drives me crazy, is state parties don't just focus on one election cycle. We have to build infrastructure that is beyond just the upcoming election cycle. We have to look to 26, 28, 30, and beyond, right? This is one of the things that I have in my plan. I want to write a 10-year plan for the DNC.

People think I'm crazy to say that, but the reality is we have to not be myopically focused on just this election cycle because what that means is then we're recreating the infrastructure every two or four years as a national party. Look, we are part of a movement, of course, of people who are fighting for social justice and economic justice. But political parties have one very clear role, right?

People think I'm crazy to say that, but the reality is we have to not be myopically focused on just this election cycle because what that means is then we're recreating the infrastructure every two or four years as a national party. Look, we are part of a movement, of course, of people who are fighting for social justice and economic justice. But political parties have one very clear role, right?

It is our only role, and it is to win elections. But to do that, you have to build long-lasting and durable infrastructure that sees beyond just one election cycle. And if you'll allow me to use a hockey analogy, because I'm from Minnesota, and Wayne Gretzky, the great one right there in LA, said once that you have to skate to where the puck will be, not where the puck is, right?

It is our only role, and it is to win elections. But to do that, you have to build long-lasting and durable infrastructure that sees beyond just one election cycle. And if you'll allow me to use a hockey analogy, because I'm from Minnesota, and Wayne Gretzky, the great one right there in LA, said once that you have to skate to where the puck will be, not where the puck is, right?

Yet our party just keeps skating to where the puck is. Who's looking at the fact that in 2030, our map is gonna completely change underneath of us as all the power shifts to the south and the Southwest. And who's preparing for that moment right now as we go into 25 and 26? It should be the National Party that has a longer-term lens for this work and a longer-term arc on how we do that.

Yet our party just keeps skating to where the puck is. Who's looking at the fact that in 2030, our map is gonna completely change underneath of us as all the power shifts to the south and the Southwest. And who's preparing for that moment right now as we go into 25 and 26? It should be the National Party that has a longer-term lens for this work and a longer-term arc on how we do that.

So I guess those are the three things that state parties are doing that the National Party's not doing.

So I guess those are the three things that state parties are doing that the National Party's not doing.

I take no credit for it. But let me say this. We've had wonderful candidates on the ballot. I mean, I will never claim credit for their victory. But what I do claim some amount of credit for is building infrastructure that they've relied on, right? We've built probably the strongest state party in the nation. I'm sure...

I take no credit for it. But let me say this. We've had wonderful candidates on the ballot. I mean, I will never claim credit for their victory. But what I do claim some amount of credit for is building infrastructure that they've relied on, right? We've built probably the strongest state party in the nation. I'm sure...

There's others that would disagree, but both from fundraising and building the infrastructure on the ground. Our candidates, for instance, all of them, from Governor Walz to Senator Klobuchar to local candidates, they rely on our party's infrastructure. Our turnout machine is... is second to none, right?

There's others that would disagree, but both from fundraising and building the infrastructure on the ground. Our candidates, for instance, all of them, from Governor Walz to Senator Klobuchar to local candidates, they rely on our party's infrastructure. Our turnout machine is... is second to none, right?

In terms of IDing and persuading, mobilizing voters, we always have the top voter turnout in the nation. If not, we're number two or number three. Most importantly is that our candidates don't have to build that infrastructure themselves. They can rely on the state party to actually run the field program so they don't have to do that. And I think that's why we've been winning, right?

In terms of IDing and persuading, mobilizing voters, we always have the top voter turnout in the nation. If not, we're number two or number three. Most importantly is that our candidates don't have to build that infrastructure themselves. They can rely on the state party to actually run the field program so they don't have to do that. And I think that's why we've been winning, right?

I mean, there's a lot of reasons. I mean, but the other part of winning is the fact that our party and our elected officials are delivering on the promises they made to voters, right? And

I mean, there's a lot of reasons. I mean, but the other part of winning is the fact that our party and our elected officials are delivering on the promises they made to voters, right? And

There's no greater example of that than what Tim Walz and our legislative leaders did with the trifecta the last two years to actually focus on an agenda that will help working people that are struggling in this state and then using the power they had when they had it to make a difference for those folks.

There's no greater example of that than what Tim Walz and our legislative leaders did with the trifecta the last two years to actually focus on an agenda that will help working people that are struggling in this state and then using the power they had when they had it to make a difference for those folks.

I think part of the disillusionment, John, with American politics right now, as I mentioned earlier, is that folks hear people say one thing and then do another. You know, not to keep quoting Paul, but Paul used to say, you should never separate the life you lead from the words you speak. And people see too many politicians in both parties who stand up, right?