{"id":1055088,"date":"2025-07-15T18:40:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T22:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/democrats.org\/?p=1055088"},"modified":"2025-07-15T18:40:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T22:40:13","slug":"icymi-dnc-chair-ken-martin-slams-trumps-budget-shares-dems-initiative-to-organize-everywhere-to-fight-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/icymi-dnc-chair-ken-martin-slams-trumps-budget-shares-dems-initiative-to-organize-everywhere-to-fight-back\/","title":{"rendered":"ICYMI: DNC Chair Ken Martin Slams Trump\u2019s Budget, Shares Dems\u2019 Initiative to Organize Everywhere To Fight Back"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Over the weekend, following the passage of Trump\u2019s billionaire-first budget bill, DNC Chair Ken Martin traveled to Tennessee, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to share how Democrats will hold Trump accountable for his disastrous budget \u2014 touting Democrats\u2019 \u201cOrganizing Summer\u201d campaign as just one example of how the DNC is immediately organizing voters, rebuilding Democratic power across the country, and working to elect Democrats who will fight for working families.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a look at some of the coverage below: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Tennessee: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bulwark<\/strong><\/a>: A (Surprisingly) Revealing Conversation With DNC Chair Ken Martin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Lauren Egen, 7\/13\/25]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLAUREN EGAN: We\u2019re in Tennessee, where just twenty years ago Democrats were winning the state. But that version of the party seems really far away now. How do you expand the party\u2019s tent?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKEN MARTIN: We win through addition, not through subtraction. That sometimes means we have dissent and debate and differences of opinion. But at the end of the day, that\u2019s okay within a party like ours. We are a coalition party. That means that we have to have conversations with people who might not agree with us on every single issue, but are there with us on the majority of issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to force ourselves out of our comfort zone in terms of where we organize and then how we organize. We cannot just show up three months before an election and have the first conversation with voters in any part of the country. We actually have to build trust again with voters. That\u2019s the biggest thing that we have right now as a party, is a trust deficit. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEGAN: The DNC just launched its \u2018organizing summer\u2019 campaign to recruit volunteers, register people to vote, etc. It feels to me like a very traditional way of doing things, especially at a time when so much of politics is happening online. Do you feel like you\u2019re fighting the last war?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMARTIN: No, I don\u2019t because it\u2019s not a traditional organizing program where we\u2019re knocking [on] doors. We\u2019re actually going into those in-person spaces\u2014book clubs, community festivals, sporting events, clubs, and bars. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t just organize in-person spaces at the expense of digital, or digital at the expense of being in-person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s things such as online knitting clubs, [and we\u2019re] making sure we have our people in those spaces talking about what we\u2019re doing, talking about politics. That micro-, nano-influencer organizing in those digital spaces that we\u2019ve seen other people do so well is important. And then being on every single podcast and every single big digital platform is really a big part of it as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEGAN: Going back to how you win in more red parts of the country, how do you change the national perception that Democrats aren\u2019t actually a \u2018big tent\u2019? That you have to conform in order to fit in? I\u2019m thinking especially about voters who might feel differently on issues such as guns and abortion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMARTIN: When we are out there talking about issues, we don\u2019t shame someone if they say, \u2018Well, I\u2019m pro-gun.\u2019 We don\u2019t try to convince them that their position is wrong. We talk about the things where maybe we have some alignment. This is why it\u2019s so important to focus on an economic agenda, because it\u2019s the one thing, no matter where you\u2019re at on all these other issues, it\u2019s the one thing that unites everyone within our coalition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nashville Banner<\/strong><\/a>: National Democratic Chair Sets Aim on Tennessee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Sarah Grace Taylor, 7\/14\/25]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA-list Democrats are suddenly really interested in Nashville. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPart of this influx comes from Ken Martin, the new DNC chair, who wants to redirect campaign money and resources to the south over the next decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018This is the new slogan at the DNC: When you organize everywhere, you can win anywhere,\u2019 Martin said, noting that under his leadership, the party is generally trying to focus on areas it has traditionally neglected. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018We can\u2019t keep ignoring states like Tennessee,\u2019 Martin said. \u2018If we do, we\u2019re going to be on the wrong side of things.\u2019 \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeyond the two immediate Congressional races, Martin says Democrats need to focus on Tennessee over the next decade as population shifts position several southern states to gain long-term political influence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018Wayne Gretzky said you have to skate to where the puck will be, not where the puck is,\u2019 Martin said. \u2018I believe that we have to start competing here now, given the population growth here, because Tennessee is going to be a critical battleground state that we have to win in the future.\u2019 \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018The South will decide the president in 2032 and the South will decide the congressional majorities in 2032,\u2019 Martin predicted. \u2018It\u2019s not like we\u2019re going to win everything overnight, but through sustained investment and building infrastructure the right way and paying attention to states like Tennessee, we can put ourselves in a position to actually win down the road.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Michigan:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZMQ<\/strong><\/a>: Democrats Slam Federal Budget Bill, Launch Messaging Blitz Ahead of 2026 Midterms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Sophia Murphy, 7\/11\/25]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDemocratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said the legislation, backed exclusively by Republicans in both chambers of Congress, will strip away key safety net programs while delivering tax cuts for the wealthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018This isn\u2019t just bad policy\u2014it\u2019s immoral,\u2019 Martin said. \u2018When you take food from starving children, kick seniors out of nursing homes, and close rural hospitals, you\u2019re turning your back on who we are as a country.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccording to Martin, the impacts of the act will be felt severely in Michigan. He said Congressional analysis showed the budget could result in more than 453,000 Michiganders losing health insurance, 123,000 losing food assistance, and nearly 270,000 losing jobs. He also warned that at least four rural hospitals in Michigan are at risk of closing under the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Democratic Party plans to make the bill a centerpiece of its 2026 campaign strategy, aiming to regain control of the Senate and expand its presence in the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018There\u2019s no doubt this is one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation in decades,\u2019 Martin said. \u2018We\u2019re going to make sure every voter knows exactly who\u2019s responsible, and we\u2019re going to hold Republicans accountable at the ballot box.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin also emphasized the personal stakes, recounting his own upbringing dependent on Medicaid and food assistance programs. \u2018I\u2019m here today because someone gave a damn,\u2019 he said. \u2018We can\u2019t take the ladder of opportunity away from the next generation.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Pennsylvania:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philadelphia Tribune<\/strong><\/a>: ‘It cannot be ignored any longer’: DNC chair admits party losing ground with Black voters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Marco Cerino, 7\/14\/25]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpeaking with The Philadelphia Tribune on Sunday, Martin said he wants to visit neighborhoods and win back trust with Black voters through direct messaging and engaging local leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018We have to remember that it\u2019s not a singular occurrence of losing ground in the Black community,\u2019 Martin said. \u2018We\u2019ve been losing ground with big parts of our constituency for years. Part of the reason we\u2019re losing ground with the Black community, but I would argue with many communities, is that we have such a transactional relationship with voters.\u2019 \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin said the party\u2019s new organizing efforts will rely on local leaders and local influencers who know the communities\u2019 needs and leanings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018Engagement will happen online and in physical spaces,\u2019 he said. Martin referenced a longtime resident in the predominantly Black 7th Ward in New Orleans, who will talk with candidates on her porch. Her endorsements carry significant weight among her neighbors. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe said the party is committed to getting back into particular bases and engage residents, starting with its \u2018Organizing Summer\u2019 campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the weekend, following the passage of Trump\u2019s billionaire-first budget bill, DNC Chair Ken Martin traveled to Tennessee, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to share how Democrats will hold Trump accountable for his disastrous budget \u2014 touting Democrats\u2019 \u201cOrganizing Summer\u201d campaign as just one example of how the DNC is immediately organizing voters, rebuilding Democratic power […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":293,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1055088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nICYMI: DNC Chair Ken Martin Slams Trump\u2019s Budget, Shares Dems\u2019 Initiative to Organize Everywhere To Fight Back - Democrats<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/icymi-dnc-chair-ken-martin-slams-trumps-budget-shares-dems-initiative-to-organize-everywhere-to-fight-back\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Democrats\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-15T22:40:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-15T22:40:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/democrats.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Black-Logo-White-Fill-For-Email.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1101\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"483\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shelby Reese\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shelby Reese\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/icymi-dnc-chair-ken-martin-slams-trumps-budget-shares-dems-initiative-to-organize-everywhere-to-fight-back\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/icymi-dnc-chair-ken-martin-slams-trumps-budget-shares-dems-initiative-to-organize-everywhere-to-fight-back\/\",\"name\":\"ICYMI: DNC Chair Ken Martin Slams Trump\u2019s Budget, Shares Dems\u2019 Initiative to Organize Everywhere To Fight Back - 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