The Democratic Party leadership race has officially kicked off with former Maryland Governor and unsuccessful presidential candidate Martin O’Malley announcing a bid to take over.
O’Malley, who has faded from the national scene recently, made a brief bid in 2016 to lead the Democratic National Committee, but withdrew his name days later.
But a person familiar with O’Malley’s plans said he has already reached out to key party leaders who have “expressed interest in his vision for the future of the Democratic Party.” Over the next few weeks, he is expected to lay out the basic principles of his vision for the party. This includes communicating with Americans “not through fear” but by providing a better future.
O’Malley, who most recently served as Social Security Administration commissioner, is expected to rely on his record as mayor, governor and president of the Democratic Governors Association. He is expected to express support for the 50-state commitment, meaning the Democratic National Committee will help maintain the party’s infrastructure across the country, not just in hotly contested states. This is the position that many of the contenders are expected to take.
While O’Malley has officially entered the fray, which was first reported by The New York Times, many other names have been circulating even before the November 5 election. The contest comes as former DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison leaves office. Harrison is expected to make more public comments in the coming weeks about how the party will move forward.
One person often cited in Democratic circles as a possibility to chair the Democratic National Committee is Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler. Wikler is known as a prodigious fundraiser who has earned the respect of Republicans and Democrats alike, and has served as a ubiquitous television voice for the left in the last several major national and local elections.
“Ben is seriously considering running,” a person familiar with Wikler’s thinking told NBC News.
Several DNC members privately said they already support Minnesota Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin. Martin has not officially announced his candidacy for the position, but he is “definitely considering it,” he told NBC News. Martin said he firmly believes the party must continue to build in all 50 states.
“A lot of people call me and encourage me to run,” Martin said. “I’d just like to say, ‘I’ve had a lot of good conversations. There’s a lot to take in.’
Martin is also president of the Democratic State Presidents’ Association, which some supporters say could be a natural starting point.
Rahm Emanuel – who is now the US ambassador to Japan and was previously the mayor of Chicago, a congressman and chief of staff to President Barack Obama – has expressed interest in the position. He has had some outreach to members of the Democratic National Committee, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Two people close to Emanuel described his interest as somewhat lukewarm, also suggesting he may have bigger prospects on the horizon. Emanuel could be open to running for public office in Illinois if Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., makes an announcement that could come in January, or if Gov. J.B. Pritzker decides not to run for a third term when he takes office. 2026, the two people said.
Several state party chairs told NBC News that any bid for Emanuel would be “dead on arrival” or “laughable.”
Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said in an interview that she opposed Emanuel and couldn’t see his bid gaining momentum. She said Kleeb supports Martin for chair of the Democratic National Committee, while she is interested in seeking the ASDC chair position that Martin now holds.
Everyone who leads the party must come to terms with the devastating loss that Donald Trump suffered on November 5. This will include assistance in determining the primary orthodontic position. NBC News reported on Friday that there is already an appetite to revamp the calendar again after months of painstaking wrangling and planning led to the party scrapping Iowa and New Hampshire from its early state lineup.
Carol E. Lee contributed.
