Ken Martin

So I have to admit that I have my own white privilege here. But that doesn't prevent me from seeing the phobias that exist throughout our communities, both in Minnesota and, frankly, throughout this country.

So I have to admit that I have my own white privilege here. But that doesn't prevent me from seeing the phobias that exist throughout our communities, both in Minnesota and, frankly, throughout this country.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Well, let me just start by saying thanks for having me. And isn't it a little crazy that this race is coming down to two middle-aged white guys from the Midwest with three-letter first names? Ken and Ben. Who would have thought, right?

Well, let me just start by saying thanks for having me. And isn't it a little crazy that this race is coming down to two middle-aged white guys from the Midwest with three-letter first names? Ken and Ben. Who would have thought, right?

No, it's great. And Ben's a wonderful friend. He's doing great things in Wisconsin, for sure. Look, you know, for me, I've always said being a party chair is the political equivalency of being a fire hydrant, right? You get pissed on by everyone. Like you said, you get none of the credit when you win, all the blame when you lose.

No, it's great. And Ben's a wonderful friend. He's doing great things in Wisconsin, for sure. Look, you know, for me, I've always said being a party chair is the political equivalency of being a fire hydrant, right? You get pissed on by everyone. Like you said, you get none of the credit when you win, all the blame when you lose.

And of course, if you're doing your job the right way, you're saying no more than you're saying yes. So by the time it's over, you have far fewer friends. So I'm eyes wide open about this. I've been the chair of the Minnesota DFL the last 14 years, came in

And of course, if you're doing your job the right way, you're saying no more than you're saying yes. So by the time it's over, you have far fewer friends. So I'm eyes wide open about this. I've been the chair of the Minnesota DFL the last 14 years, came in

to this job right after the disastrous midterm elections in 2010 where we suffered you know throughout the country as you remember John one of the worst shellacans we faced as a party in in years and that was true in Minnesota we lost a 40-year senate majority we lost the state house

to this job right after the disastrous midterm elections in 2010 where we suffered you know throughout the country as you remember John one of the worst shellacans we faced as a party in in years and that was true in Minnesota we lost a 40-year senate majority we lost the state house

We lost the longest held congressional seat in Congress in the Eighth District with Jim Overstar, and many races up and down the ballot. I happened to help run a campaign for governor that year where we were successful in getting Mark Dayton elected by just 8,750 votes.

We lost the longest held congressional seat in Congress in the Eighth District with Jim Overstar, and many races up and down the ballot. I happened to help run a campaign for governor that year where we were successful in getting Mark Dayton elected by just 8,750 votes.

And so to your point, I mean, we had to at that point, the morale was low, the finger pointing was high, the name calling, the blaming, people, the morale was so low and people were fleeing the party, right? All of our stakeholders, donors, progressive partners and allies, candidates, no one wanted anything to do with the party.

And so to your point, I mean, we had to at that point, the morale was low, the finger pointing was high, the name calling, the blaming, people, the morale was so low and people were fleeing the party, right? All of our stakeholders, donors, progressive partners and allies, candidates, no one wanted anything to do with the party.

And what it took is when I came in as party chair, it took someone to be able to bring all those groups back to the table and realize if we're going to build power again, We had to figure out a plan to win. And we did that. And we got back in power within two years. And we haven't lost since.

And what it took is when I came in as party chair, it took someone to be able to bring all those groups back to the table and realize if we're going to build power again, We had to figure out a plan to win. And we did that. And we got back in power within two years. And we haven't lost since.

And we're in a similar moment right now, right, where there's low morale, a lot of finger pointing, a lot of people trying to place blame. I'm, by the way, not here to win the argument. I want us to win elections again. And that's what we've done in Minnesota. And so there's a lot of reasons why I'm running. I'm very clear-eyed about what this job isn't. It's not a pathway to glory.

And we're in a similar moment right now, right, where there's low morale, a lot of finger pointing, a lot of people trying to place blame. I'm, by the way, not here to win the argument. I want us to win elections again. And that's what we've done in Minnesota. And so there's a lot of reasons why I'm running. I'm very clear-eyed about what this job isn't. It's not a pathway to glory.