Ken Martin

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.

Because technically, by the IRS, our labor partners and some of our reproductive rights groups and others are corporations, right? So what are we actually using to define corporations? And what I would say is bad corporate actors who don't share our values, the DNC should not be taking their money. I've been very clear on that. And we don't take that type of money here in Minnesota, and we won't.

Because technically, by the IRS, our labor partners and some of our reproductive rights groups and others are corporations, right? So what are we actually using to define corporations? And what I would say is bad corporate actors who don't share our values, the DNC should not be taking their money. I've been very clear on that. And we don't take that type of money here in Minnesota, and we won't.

And I think at the DNC, the DNC has to live its values. Where there are bad corporate actors who, again, who don't share the Democratic Party's values, the Democratic Party should not only not take their money, they should be calling out people who do.

And I think at the DNC, the DNC has to live its values. Where there are bad corporate actors who, again, who don't share the Democratic Party's values, the Democratic Party should not only not take their money, they should be calling out people who do.

You know, I think there's a lot. You know, Maxwell Frost down in Florida. I think Peggy Flanagan here in Minnesota, you know, our lieutenant governor. There's a great guy who was just elected as the mayor of Tulsa, Monroe Nichols, who's a former state representative, right? first African-American mayor. I think Sarah McBride in Delaware, who's a great friend.

You know, I think there's a lot. You know, Maxwell Frost down in Florida. I think Peggy Flanagan here in Minnesota, you know, our lieutenant governor. There's a great guy who was just elected as the mayor of Tulsa, Monroe Nichols, who's a former state representative, right? first African-American mayor. I think Sarah McBride in Delaware, who's a great friend.

And there's a lot of wonderful leaders that, I think there's an amazing bench we have in the Democratic Party, right? We've got these great governors like Andy Beshear and Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro and Gretchen Whitmer, right? We've got, and your governor, of course, Gavin Newsom. We've got an amazing bench.

And there's a lot of wonderful leaders that, I think there's an amazing bench we have in the Democratic Party, right? We've got these great governors like Andy Beshear and Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro and Gretchen Whitmer, right? We've got, and your governor, of course, Gavin Newsom. We've got an amazing bench.

But, you know, as I look at this, we've got wonderful Democratic electeds throughout this country that are serving in office right now that don't get the attention they deserve. Because, again, we're focused on all the big names, you know, the big governors and, of course, the members of Congress. But there are some amazing leaders serving in local offices that we should be paying attention to.

But, you know, as I look at this, we've got wonderful Democratic electeds throughout this country that are serving in office right now that don't get the attention they deserve. Because, again, we're focused on all the big names, you know, the big governors and, of course, the members of Congress. But there are some amazing leaders serving in local offices that we should be paying attention to.

I do them all the time. And it's part of your role as a state party chair, right? And certainly in my role at the ASDC as a vice chair of the DNC, I've done lots of national media. But it's not an either or, right? Frankly, I would say we've got this great bench of elected officials, many of them I just talked about, that we should be showcasing and using more, frankly. And

I do them all the time. And it's part of your role as a state party chair, right? And certainly in my role at the ASDC as a vice chair of the DNC, I've done lots of national media. But it's not an either or, right? Frankly, I would say we've got this great bench of elected officials, many of them I just talked about, that we should be showcasing and using more, frankly. And

um you know the if folks think that the democratic the next chair of the democratic party is a savior that there's someone riding in to save the party that's the wrong mentality right i have a plaque in my office that says none of us are as smart as all of us and mark dayton gave that to me i believe it at the end of the day no one has all the answers right but the reality is is we have this amazingly rich party of people with great professional experiences and lived experiences that we should be tapping into and that includes

um you know the if folks think that the democratic the next chair of the democratic party is a savior that there's someone riding in to save the party that's the wrong mentality right i have a plaque in my office that says none of us are as smart as all of us and mark dayton gave that to me i believe it at the end of the day no one has all the answers right but the reality is is we have this amazingly rich party of people with great professional experiences and lived experiences that we should be tapping into and that includes

spokespeople, right? I believe we've got mayors. Who better to talk about public safety than mayors throughout the country, right? Who better to talk about, you know, natural disasters like what we're seeing in LA right now than county commissioners and leaders who have to deal with that? Who better to talk about transportation funding and education funding than governors.

spokespeople, right? I believe we've got mayors. Who better to talk about public safety than mayors throughout the country, right? Who better to talk about, you know, natural disasters like what we're seeing in LA right now than county commissioners and leaders who have to deal with that? Who better to talk about transportation funding and education funding than governors.

And so I think we have many spokespeople and the DNC is not the only person who should be the spokesperson for our party. But I do think what we need is someone that's going to be really focused on organizing. Right now what this moment needs is someone who can both get the message out but frankly, focusing on building the foundation we need and the infrastructure we need to win.

And so I think we have many spokespeople and the DNC is not the only person who should be the spokesperson for our party. But I do think what we need is someone that's going to be really focused on organizing. Right now what this moment needs is someone who can both get the message out but frankly, focusing on building the foundation we need and the infrastructure we need to win.

Because that's one of the lessons from this last election is clearly our comms infrastructure and our organizing infrastructure is not being utilized the way it should. And it's not being built in a way where it's permanent. And it's part of actually moving and persuading voters.