Ken Martin
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Yeah, I mean, I think this is a very good question, right? And the reality is that you have to be intentional about this. And you have to make sure that your donors know that for us to actually turn the page here and build power, we have to have a more holistic approach on it. You can't just focus on seven battleground states, right?
What will help us win the presidency is actually winning local races and winning state legislatures and winning gubernatorial races, right? So the reality is it's all connected. And the second piece is, yeah, we do have to grow the pie, right?
What will help us win the presidency is actually winning local races and winning state legislatures and winning gubernatorial races, right? So the reality is it's all connected. And the second piece is, yeah, we do have to grow the pie, right?
And part of building a coordinated campaign where we're building a permanent campaign is realizing that we're stronger together and we should actually have shared resources where we're focus collectively on a plan to achieve the same goals.
And part of building a coordinated campaign where we're building a permanent campaign is realizing that we're stronger together and we should actually have shared resources where we're focus collectively on a plan to achieve the same goals.
And so when you're so disjointed and you're spending money on when the left hand and the right hand aren't talking and coordinating, you're just duplicating effort and wasting resource. So for me, it's just being more holistic about it. And is it going to be a challenge? For sure. Because it won't be the way the DC consultants and others want it to be. We're going to flip the script.
And so when you're so disjointed and you're spending money on when the left hand and the right hand aren't talking and coordinating, you're just duplicating effort and wasting resource. So for me, it's just being more holistic about it. And is it going to be a challenge? For sure. Because it won't be the way the DC consultants and others want it to be. We're going to flip the script.
We're going to break up this cabal in D.C., and we're going to do things differently, right? And the model is states like Minnesota, states like Wisconsin, states like Michigan, right? States that are building here in the Midwest and winning, right, in very purple states by actually bringing people together and focusing more holistically.
We're going to break up this cabal in D.C., and we're going to do things differently, right? And the model is states like Minnesota, states like Wisconsin, states like Michigan, right? States that are building here in the Midwest and winning, right, in very purple states by actually bringing people together and focusing more holistically.
Look, if you want to keep losing, keep doing things the way they are. Now, as it relates to raising money, there's no state that's raised as much money as I have. In addition to raising $220 million for my state party, I served on the Harris-Walls Finance Committee, raised over $6 million for the presidential campaign, did the same thing in 2016.
Look, if you want to keep losing, keep doing things the way they are. Now, as it relates to raising money, there's no state that's raised as much money as I have. In addition to raising $220 million for my state party, I served on the Harris-Walls Finance Committee, raised over $6 million for the presidential campaign, did the same thing in 2016.
Raising money is not going to be a challenge for me. The most important thing is how we spend it. And if we're not spending it on winning, then we shouldn't be spending it. So here's to all those consultants in DC.
Raising money is not going to be a challenge for me. The most important thing is how we spend it. And if we're not spending it on winning, then we shouldn't be spending it. So here's to all those consultants in DC.
I hope they're listening to me because if you bring me a plan that doesn't help us win elections, you're going to have to go pound sand because you're not going to get a contract from the DNC. And that's how we built it here. And it's important not just to help us win, but it's important for those donors who are giving us money to have a sense on how the DNC chair is going to approach this.
I hope they're listening to me because if you bring me a plan that doesn't help us win elections, you're going to have to go pound sand because you're not going to get a contract from the DNC. And that's how we built it here. And it's important not just to help us win, but it's important for those donors who are giving us money to have a sense on how the DNC chair is going to approach this.
We're not going to invest in things that don't help us win elections. No more contracts to just line consultants' pockets. As I've said, I'm here to win the U.S. House back, not help a consultant build a new house.
We're not going to invest in things that don't help us win elections. No more contracts to just line consultants' pockets. As I've said, I'm here to win the U.S. House back, not help a consultant build a new house.
Well, look, I mean, this is a little bit of a challenging one because I do want to get dark money out of politics. I've long supported Ending Citizens United and making sure that we find a way to actually overhaul the campaign finance system so these campaigns and elections aren't as expensive. I mean, we've spent $2.5 billion on a presidential campaign, over $10 billion, by the way, John,
Well, look, I mean, this is a little bit of a challenging one because I do want to get dark money out of politics. I've long supported Ending Citizens United and making sure that we find a way to actually overhaul the campaign finance system so these campaigns and elections aren't as expensive. I mean, we've spent $2.5 billion on a presidential campaign, over $10 billion, by the way, John,
just in 2024 spent on the Democratic side alone. It's obscene, right? And we've got to reverse course somehow. And part of that, of course, is getting money out of politics generally. But when we say corporations, right, it's a very large term. And this is where I start to get the devil's in the details.