Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler said Sunday he has joined the race to lead the national party after an election that brought Donald Trump and Republicans to power in Washington.
“In Wisconsin, we have built a permanent campaign,” Wikler said in his candidacy announcement. “We organize and communicate year-round in all corners of the state – rural, suburban, red, blue and purple areas.”
Since losing control of the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives, Democrats have been looking for new leadership to tackle the country’s problems, with the added challenge of four more years of a Trump presidency.
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Chairman Ken Martinwho has led the state party for more than a decade and is vice-chairman of the national party, is also standing for election. Before becoming chairman of the DFL party, Martin previously worked on several campaigns, including former Governor Mark Dayton in 2010 and the presidential campaigns of John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000.
Martin O’Malley, the former governor of Maryland, is also chairman of the DNC. Most recently he served as commissioner of the Social Security Administration, but submitted his letter of resignation to President Biden on Monday. Current DNC Chairman Jamie Harrison is not expected to seek re-election to his position.
The DNC will choose her successor in February, an election that will speak volumes about how the party wants to present itself during another four years of Trump in the White House.
Wikler, who was elected state chairman in 2019, cites his experience leading the party’s efforts in a state that shifted less toward Trump than other battlegrounds in 2024 and where Democrats won key downballot races.
He said that during his tenure, Democrats flipped the majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and re-elected Tony Evers as governor. This year, the state returned Sen. Tammy Baldwin for a third term and regained 14 state legislative seats, which he said puts Democrats on track for a majority in both chambers in 2026.
“What made a difference in Wisconsin can make a difference everywhere,” Wikler said.
Wikler, 43, has served as a Washington director for MoveOn.org, a progressive advocacy group, and as a campaign manager for Avaaz, a group that mobilizes members to address issues such as poverty, climate change and human rights.
Wikler told CNN’s “Inside Politics Sunday” that Democrats need to show Americans that “we are on their side and show who the Republicans are for. If we don’t do that, we are going to lose.”
