The Democratic Party's internal power struggle has crystallized around one man: DNC Chair Ken Martin, whose grip on power faces its most serious test yet as the party charts its course toward 2028.
Martin's troubles stem from multiple directions. The DNC's bungled rollout of its election autopsy this month, which he later disavowed as incomplete, has emboldened critics in Congress and among party strategists to demand his resignation. Financial pressures on the committee have only amplified the sense of crisis. Yet when it mattered most, Martin held his ground. As DNC members gathered this week to shape the primary calendar and process, the chair retained enough support to survive what could have been a fatal blow.
The stakes extend beyond Martin's job. The DNC controls the primary schedule and debate rules, builds the infrastructure the eventual nominee will inherit, and sets the terms of the entire nominating contest. Credibility in managing that process is everything.
"If people can't trust the DNC, what is going to happen is they're going to think the process is rigged against their candidate," said Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of the influential "Pod Save America" podcast. Martin's handling of the autopsy crisis, Pfeiffer argued, has done real damage to that trust.
Yet inside the DNC's powerful rules and bylaws committee, which met at a Washington hotel this week, the picture looked starkly different. Members rallied to Martin's defense with unmistakable firmness. "There is huge support, huge support, at this committee and the party as a whole for Ken Martin," said Stuart Appelbaum, a committee member. Ray Buckley, who leads the New Hampshire Democratic Party, pushed back against online critics on social media, noting that DNC members overwhelmingly back the chair.
Even Vinod Thomas, who had publicly pressed Martin to release the autopsy sooner, stopped short of calling for his ouster. "Ken is a reform-minded, progressive leader. If he is forced out, he is likely to be replaced by someone who is far more aligned with insiders, consultants and donor networks," Thomas said.
Martin's support among DNC members is not accidental. He previously led the Association of State Democratic Committees and has funneled more resources to state parties since taking the chair. That institutional loyalty has insulated him, for now.
Still, Martin's position remains fragile. Some Democrats believe he could face real pressure if congressional leadership signals they want him gone, or if the DNC's financial situation deteriorates further. Removing him would require at least a majority vote among the DNC's roughly 400 members.
The Martin drama unfolded as states made their pitches for early placement in the 2028 primary calendar, revealing deeper fractures about which voters Democrats should target. Nevada and New Mexico emphasized their Latino populations, arguing the party needs to reclaim ground lost in 2024. South Carolina highlighted Black voters, long the party's most reliable base. Tennessee made the case for competing in Appalachia, where Democrats once held sway.
The lobbying was intense. Nevada Democrats hosted a reception with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and the Secretary of State. New Hampshire and Michigan distributed goodie bags. Donna Brazile, a longtime DNC member, assessed that "seven out of 12 did exceedingly well" with their presentations.
That emphasis on electoral arithmetic reflects the deeper question animating the primary calendar debate. "I think about one thing, and that is: How do you get to 270 electoral votes?" Brazile said, suggesting the committee remains open to prioritizing early contests in battleground states.
Martin notably absented himself from the committee's public session, though he did make private rounds at the hotel. The move suggested the chair understood the delicacy of his position: present enough to maintain control, but absent enough to avoid the appearance of defending himself.
Author James Rodriguez: "Martin has survived round one, but the autopsy fiasco exposed real cracks in the DNC's credibility right when the party needs to project strength."
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