What's New
Marianne Williamson, an author who has run twice for president, announced on Thursday that she will be running to be chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Why It Matters
In a letter penned to members, Williams announced her interest, noting how the political sphere "feels different."
"Before now, the party had faced defeats to be sure. But our playbook still basically worked," Williamson said in the letter. "The waters were turbulent at times, but our ship was steady."
Williamson, 72, went on to list the "political theatre" supported by President-elect Donald Trump and how the "MAGA phenomenon" poses "challenges" to how politics are conducted. She laid out her own plan for the party, looking to move forward after losing the White House and Senate in November.
"As chairwoman, I will work to reinvent the party from the inside out," Williamson wrote. "For if we want a new president in four years, and a new Congress in two, then we must immediately get about the task of creating a new party."
Williamson ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 and 2024. Her past policies have included calling for an end to the war on drugs, supporting abortion access and choice, increasing the minimum wage, addressing climate change and creating a Department of Peace. She has written several books, with seven appearing on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and became a more recognized name when she frequented Oprah Winfrey's daytime talk show as a guest. Williamson also was a spiritual leader for the Church of Today in Michigan.
What To Know
Williamson joins a long list of candidates running to be DNC chair as Jaime Harrison is not seeking reelection.
Martin O'Malley, 61, made his bid official in November. The former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor stepped down from his most recent role as Social Security Administration commissioner effective November 29.
His platform emphasizes the need for a comprehensive "after-action report" about recent electoral performance, arguing that such analysis should be "based on truth, well researched and based on the facts and numbers." He said he plans to lean heavily on his experience leading the Democratic Governors Association and his track record in executive positions.
Ken Martin, 51, the current Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair, has garnered early support among DNC members. He told NewsNation that after November's election, the party is at a "crisis moment," but that means there's also "an opportunity to reimagine the DNC, to really think through a critical lens of what it could be and what it should be." As president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, Martin worked on Minnesota investments, noting that it's important to focus on the local elections to win "in every ZIP code and up and down the ballot."
Politico has Martin as an early front-runner in the race. He has been endorsed by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar as well as Minnesota Representatives Angie Craig, Betty McCollum and Dean Phillips. More than 100 DNC members have endorsed him, according to the Huffington Post.
Ben Wikler, 43, is the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. In an interview with NewsNation, Wikler noted that his state "overperformed" in voting for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Wikler has built a reputation as an effective fundraiser and gained respect across party lines for his leadership of the state party. In his announcement video for his candidacy, Wikler said the party needs "to be stronger, to unite, to fight and to win."
Robert Houton, 53, penned a letter to the DNC members at the beginning of December launching his bid for the chair position. He said he wanted to "lead and grow our Democratic Party to champion electoral and transformative, legacy victories in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and beyond." Houton, a former candidate for Senate from Maryland, told the Washington Examiner that he doesn't "tolerate just sitting back and watching the party implode."
Jason Paul, 38, is the executive member of the Newton, Massachusetts, Democratic City Committee. The lawyer and political strategist told the Newton Beacon in early December that he wants to see a total overhaul of the party. Paul, 38, has worked on various campaigns throughout New England and the Midwest.
James Skoufis, 37, is a New York state senator and a former member of the New York State Assembly. In his announcement video, Skoufis called himself an "outsider" and the "underdog." He told the New York Times that he's hearing an "overwhelming sentiment" for the party "to do things differently."
Nate Snyder, a former Department of Homeland Security official, joined the race on December 10, saying he is looking to win back the working class. Snyder is an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago, according to his LinkedIn. He told Reuters that he decided to run after a meeting with state party officials in Arizona, where there was a lack of discussion about the need for change. He said the party has "sort of lost our way" on issues like "education, loan forgiveness, putting food on the table, fighting for the little guy."
One of Gen Z's biggest political voices, David Hogg, 24, an American gun control activist and a survivor of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, is running for DNC vice chair.
What People Are Saying
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis told Politico: "This really is an inflection point for the Democratic Party."
Democratic strategist Jennifer Holdsworth told Politico: "This is a pivotal moment that will show us whether the party has learned its lessons or not, and we'll know what direction it's going based on who it selects as its chair. We need a party leader, and we don't have one."
What's Next
Forums featuring qualifying candidates will be held in January. In order to qualify, a candidate must submit a nominating statement signed by at least 40 committee members by January 25.
The 448 voting members will elect the party's newest chair, as well as other officers, on February 1. The party's winter meeting will be in National Harbor, Maryland.
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