The field of contenders to be the next Democratic National Committee chair has narrowed after one hopeful candidate dropped out in favor of Democratic Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin of Minnesota.
Martin is vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, has led the State Democratic Chairs Association and is considered a front-runner for the DNC job.
Martin's approval rating got a boost after New York Sen. James Skoufis dropped out of the race and endorsed Martin, Politico reported Thursday morning.
Skoufis told the media in a statement that Martin "will refocus what matters most to our party: expanding the map and rebuilding our territory by seizing power outside the Washington Beltway and kicking out out-of-touch advisers." The former Democratic big tent” class to the curb. "
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Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin speaks during the Minnesota DFL Party Election Observation Party at the Intercontinental Hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota on November 5, 2024. (Christopher Mark June/Anadolu, Getty Images)
Democrats have suffered a major setback in the 2024 elections as former President Trump regains the White House and Republicans flip the Senate and retain a fragile majority in the House of Representatives.
Martin told Fox News Digital last month that one of the first things he would do if he became chairman was "have a winning plan."
Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin, a leading contender in the race for Democratic National Committee chairman, attends a Democratic National Committee executive committee meeting in Washington, DC, on December 12, 2024 (Fox News-Paul Steinhauser)
"We need to start writing the plan and make sure we get a behind-the-scenes look at what's going on," he said. "How much money do we have at the party? What are the contracts? Which contracts do we need to cancel? Bringing all of our stakeholder groups together, that's the most important thing, frankly."
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The other two top contenders in the DNC race are Ben Wikler, who has led the state Democratic Party in the battleground Wisconsin since 2019, and former two-term Maryland governor and 2016 Democratic president Candidate Martin O'Malley, a former social committee member. Safety management over the past year.
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Current Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison is not seeking another four-year term on the national party committee. The next chair will be selected by the approximately 450 voting national party committee members at the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting on February 1 in National Harbor, Maryland.
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.