In Arkansas, Utah, and Florida, DNC Chair Ken Martin is outlining and implementing his vision to build a strong Democratic Party operation that can mobilize voters and begin the necessary work to flip these states blue. As part of Chair Martin\u2019s mission to \u201corganize everywhere, win anywhere,\u201d the DNC announced a historic investment in Democratic state parties, totaling $1 million a month, to turbocharge grassroots organizing, build infrastructure, and strengthen on-the-ground operations. With this investment, the DNC is laying the groundwork to ensure state Democrats, especially in red states and swing states, have the support they need to meet the moment and build critical infrastructure that will enable us to win elections nationwide for years to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take a look at some of the coverage below: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette<\/strong><\/a>: National Democrats\u2019 chairman urges state parties to lead way in connecting with voters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n [Alex Thomas, 6\/1\/25]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen Ken Martin ascended to the top position in the Democratic Party earlier this year, he brought with him this motif: organize everywhere to win anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018There’s no such thing as a perpetual red state. There’s no such thing as a perpetual blue state,\u2019 he told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. \u2018What our role is to do is to build the infrastructure to win the moment right now, but also to win the future.\u2019 \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMartin has emphasized the importance of state parties in his new national party position. The Democratic National Committee and the Association of State Democratic Committees announced in April a revised State Partnership Program focused on providing state parties with a minimum of $17,500 each month. State Democratic parties in Republican-led states, such as Arkansas, will get an extra $5,000 per month. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018We’ve seen in areas of the country that are historically blue, because of the lack of investment over the years, we’re losing vote share,\u2019 Martin said. \u2018We’ve seen in areas that are red that when you make investments, you can actually start to move the needle.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018Arkansas is an emerging target for us,\u2019 he added. \u2018It’s a future target for us, and we need to start making the investments right now.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJannie Cotton, the Democratic Party of Arkansas’ vice chair, said Martin’s attention toward helping state parties is crucial for states like Arkansas that have lacked national engagement in statewide organization efforts, limiting state parties’ potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018I think when someone understands the fight, they know how to equip,\u2019 she said. \u2018He’s able to equip us with the things we’ve been needing for a long time.\u2019 \u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c[Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Grant] Tennille found guidance from Martin when the Arkansan took over the state party in October 2021. A new chair at the time, Tennille considered pursuing bankruptcy with the party holding thousands of dollars in debt and maxed-out credit cards, but Martin encouraged Tennille against this action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith Martin providing Tennille with mentorship, the Democratic Party of Arkansas reentered solid financial standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTennille, acknowledging Martin’s background in Minnesota, said Martin’s focus as national chair on helping state parties could translate to electoral improvements for Democrats in areas written off as unwinnable for the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018It’s tough to raise money in Arkansas right now,\u2019 he said. \u2018Ken understands that, and he’s really focused on getting us all the tools we need — money, tech, any of it — to really be able to run races we can be proud of and to support candidates that need to be supported.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arkansas Advocate<\/strong><\/a>: State, national Democrats meet in Little Rock to sketch out party’s future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n [Sonny Albarado, 5\/30\/25]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAhead of a meeting of the Democratic National Committee\u2019s Executive Committee in Little Rock on Friday, DNC chair Ken Martin said the national party is committing the largest financial assistance to state Democratic parties ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018The DNC will push out over a million dollars every month to the state parties,\u2019 Martin said in an interview. That includes $22,500 a month to the Arkansas Democratic Party to help it mobilize its efforts to improve the party\u2019s position in the Natural State, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018Arkansas is one of the only states where we saw legislative gains (in 2024),\u2019 he said. Democrats gained a single seat in the 100-member Arkansas House in the state\u2019s only majority-Latino district last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018There\u2019s real opportunity for us, but that means we have to take advantage of it. Arkansas is really an important part of the calculus of how we build our future,\u2019 Martin said. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe said he\u2019s focused on rebuilding the party infrastructure, especially in Republican-controlled states like Arkansas. He noted that political power in the U.S. is shifting to the South, where six of the 10 fastest-growing states are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018If we don\u2019t lay down a foundation here, we won\u2019t be prepared to meet that moment when it comes upon us. I don\u2019t want to be caught flatfooted when the map shifts. If we do get caught flatfooted, we could be in a permanent minority for a long time.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette<\/strong><\/a>: Democrats converge in Little Rock as state, national parties chart course for future elections<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n [Alex Thomas, 5\/29\/25]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Association of State Democratic Committees started its spring meeting on Wednesday, nearly four months after Democrats elected Ken Martin as the new national chair. Martin served as chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party before taking the top Democratic National Committee role. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018I will always be honest with you, and I will always deliver on the promises that I make to actually build this party from the grassroots up,\u2019 Martin said Thursday in an address to the association. \u2018The most critical thing I can do is to raise resources and get those resources out to you so you guys can do the work of building this party in each of your states.\u2019 \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMartin and Kleeb have encouraged an \u2018organize everywhere\u2019 approach in Democrats’ handling of future election cycles. Under Martin’s leadership, the Democratic National Committee is seeking to provide state Democratic parties with increased investments to win races. Democrats’ updated state partnership program will result in each state party receiving $17,500 per month from the national party, and state parties in Republican-controlled states like Arkansas will get an additional $5,000 each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBoth Martin and Kleeb have argued the investment should result in state parties hiring additional staff and improving party infrastructure.\u201d In Utah: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Deseret News<\/strong><\/a>: Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin looks to turn red states like Utah blue.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n [Lauren Irwin, 5\/27\/25]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSitting at a Salt Lake City restaurant on Tuesday, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said he came to the state because he believes it will one day be blue \u2014 despite his party\u2019s struggle to win any statewide elections in Utah in recent years. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Minnesota native, Martin put it in hockey terms with a famous line from NHL Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky: \u2018You have to skate to where the puck will be, not where the puck is.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018That\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to do with this new DNC, is to both win the moment right now but also win the future,\u2019 Martin said. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnder the DNC\u2019s new State Partnership Program, the Utah Democratic Party, along with state parties in other red states, will receive $22,500 a month from the DNC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018We know that with the investment of time, energy and money, a red state can become a purple state and then eventually a blue state,\u2019 he said, later adding, \u2018It\u2019s not for charity\u2019s sake, just to give money to the state party, it\u2019s actually to help build the infrastructure we need to actually win elections and meet the moment.\u2019 \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile Utah\u2019s delegation in Washington is currently entirely Republican, Martin believes that can change, with effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018It doesn\u2019t happen organically. You have to make some investments, you have to actually see a little bit of the future and be willing to take some risks,\u2019 Martin said.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/em><\/strong>In Arkansas: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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