2025 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election
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453 members of the DNC who will vote[1] 227 votes needed to win | |||
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The 2025 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election is expected to be held no later than March 1, 2025.[2] The election is scheduled to determine the next chairperson of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Jaime Harrison has announced that he will not seek another term as chair of the party.[3][4]
Background
[edit]Harrison was elected chair of the Democratic National Committee in January 2021, following election of Joe Biden as president in the 2020 United States presidential election. During his tenure, Harrison defended Biden from calls to suspend his 2024 re-election campaign amid the first 2024 presidential debate. Following the 2024 United States presidential election, in which Democratic vice president Kamala Harris was defeated by Republican former president Donald Trump, Harrison announced that he would not seek re-election as chair of the Democratic National Committee in 2025. An all-staff meeting was held on November 6, 2024, to discuss the results of the election and a potential timeline for a leadership vote,[3] which is expected to be held no later than March 1, 2025.[2]
Timeline
[edit]- November 6, 2024 – Reuters reports that Jaime Harrison will not seek re-election as chair of the Democratic National Committee in 2025 following the party's defeat in the 2024 United States presidential election.[3]
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Ken Martin, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (2017–present) and chair of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (2011–present)[5]
- Martin O'Malley, commissioner of the Social Security Administration (2023–present), former governor of Maryland (2007–2015), and candidate for president in 2016[6]
- Chuck Rocha, political strategist[7]
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Political strategist
Chuck Rocha
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Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- Michael Blake, former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (2017–2021)[2]
- Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan (2022–present) and former mayor of Chicago (2011–2019)[8]
- Mallory McMorrow, majority whip of the Michigan Senate (2023–present) from the 8th district (2019–present)[9]
- Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party (2019–present) (decision expected before December 11, 2024)[10]
Potential
[edit]- Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative from Texas's 16th congressional district (2013–2019) and candidate for U.S. senator in 2018, president in 2020, and governor of Texas in 2022[2]
- Max Rose, former U.S. representative from New York's 11th congressional district (2019–2021)[11]
- Stephanie Schriock, former president of EMILY's List (2010–2021)[12]
Declined
[edit]- Stacey Abrams, former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives (2011–2017) from the 84th district (2007–2013) and 89th district (2013–2017) and candidate for governor of Georgia in 2018 and 2022[2]
- Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky (2019–present)[2]
- Sherrod Brown, U.S. senator from Ohio (2007–present)[13]
- Laphonza Butler, U.S. senator from California (2023–present) and former president of EMILY's List (2021–2023)[14]
- Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2021–present), former mayor of South Bend (2012–2020), and candidate for president in 2020[2]
- Mitch Landrieu, senior advisor to the president for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (2021–2024) and former mayor of New Orleans (2010–2018)[15]
- Phil Murphy, governor of New Jersey (2018–present)[16]
Endorsements
[edit]Ken Martin
- U.S. representatives
- Dean Phillips, MN-03 (2019–present) and candidate for president in 2024[17]
- Statewide officials
- Keith Ellison, attorney general of Minnesota (2019–present) and candidate for DNC chair in 2017[18]
- Individuals
- James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute and former DNC Executive Committee member (2001–2017)[19]
- Party officials
- More than 100 DNC members[1]
- Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party (2016–present)[20]
Martin O'Malley
- Party officials
- 3 DNC members[21]
Rahm Emmanuel (not declared)
- U.S. representatives
- Steve Israel, NY-03 (2001–2017)[22]
- Party officials
- David Axelrod, political consultant[12]
Ben Wikler (not declared)
- U.S. senators
- Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin (2013–present)[23]
- U.S. representatives
- Pramila Jayapal, WA-07 (2017–present) and chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (2021–present)[17]
- Mark Pocan, WI-02 (2013–present)[24]
- Individuals
- Jon Favreau, co-host of Pod Save America[17]
- Party officials
- Mike Tate, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party (2009–2015)[23]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Marans, Daniel (November 21, 2024). "Why Ken Martin Wants To Lead The Democratic National Committee". HuffPost. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Merica, Dan; Peoples, Steve (November 9, 2024). "The Democrats are starting to discuss party chair candidates for the second Trump era". Associated Press. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c Jarrett Renshaw (November 6, 2024). "Democratic Party chair Harrison won't seek new term after Trump win, sources say". Reuters.
- ^ Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Marianna Sotomayor, and Tyler Pager (November 9, 2024). "Democrats begin grappling with who will lead them through exile". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ Epstein, Reid J. (November 19, 2024). "Ken Martin, a Minnesotan With Deep Democratic Ties, Joins the D.N.C. Race". The New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ Epstein, Reid J. (November 18, 2024). "Martin O'Malley, Ex-Maryland Governor, Kicks Off Race to Lead D.N.C.". The New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Seitz-Wald, Alex; Korecki, Natasha (November 20, 2024). "After a stinging election defeat, the Democrats' next big race kicks off: From the Politics Desk". NBC News. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Thompson, Alex (November 15, 2024). "Scoop: Rahm Emanuel weighs bid for DNC chair". Axios. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Daniels, Eugene; Bade, Rachael (November 20, 2024). "Playbook: The real divide roiling Democrats". Politico. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Shafer, Dan (November 20, 2024). "Wikler could be 'goldilocks candidate' for DNC chair". Civic Media. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
Wikler has not yet made a final decision about whether or not he is going to run, the source adds, but that decision could be coming in the next 2-3 weeks.
- ^ Wren, Adam; Otterbein, Holly; Kashinsky, Lisa (November 15, 2024). "Centrist Dems seize opening at the DNC: 'I don't want to be the freak show party'". Politico. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Kurtz, Josh (November 13, 2024). "O'Malley ponders bid to lead dispirited DNC". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Kuttner, Robert (November 11, 2024). "Who Will Lead the Democratic Party?". The American Prospect. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Mehta, Seema (November 18, 2024). "Laphonza Butler reflects on her brief Senate career, the presidential race and her future". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Marans, Daniel (November 18, 2024). "Mitch Landrieu, A Harris Campaign Leader, Rules Out DNC Chair Run". HuffPost. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Lesniewski, Niels; McIntire, Mary Ellen; Altimari, Daniela (November 14, 2024). "At the Races: The Leftovers". Roll Call. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
This morning, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ruled out a run, according to ABC News.
- ^ a b c Otterbein, Holly; Schneider, Elena (November 12, 2024). "The biggest clue about the Democrats' post-election future starts with this race". Politico. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Long, Hank (November 19, 2024). "Ken Martin launches bid for DNC chair". Alpha News. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ Otterbein, Holly (November 19, 2024). "Ken Martin jumps into race for DNC chair". Politico. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ Allen, Jonathan; Korecki, Natasha (November 18, 2024). "DNC Chair race officially takes flight with its first candidate: Martin O'Malley". NBC News. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Ferris, Sarah; John, Arit (November 18, 2024). "DNC chair election kicks off as former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley enters the race | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Israel, Steve (November 20, 2024). "Run, Rahm, run: Why Emanuel should lead the DNC". The Hill. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ a b Andrea, Lawrence (November 19, 2024). "Wisconsin Democratic leader Ben Wikler seen as a contender to lead the DNC". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ Wise, David (November 18, 2024). "Johnson tells 'UpFront' questions 'remain unanswered' in Hovde-Baldwin race". WisPolitics. Retrieved November 18, 2024.