Welcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.In today’s edition, Natasha Korecki digs into Ken Martin’s woes at the Democratic National Committee.Plus, Scott Wong and Frank Thorp V file a report from Sen.
Lindsey Graham’s funeral in Washington.Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerHow Ken Martin is holding on as DNC chair — for nowAnalysis by Natasha KoreckiCalls for Ken Martin to be replaced as Democratic National Committee chair are intensifying in certain corners of the party — except from the people who have the final say.
Since Martin won the chairmanship a year ago, he’s been enmeshed in a new firestorm seemingly every few months, from lagging fundraising to flip-flopping on the party’s autopsy of the 2024 election.Over the weekend, the latest raft of negative news accounts surfaced, including a report from The New York Times that Martin threw a phone at an aide’s desk.The resulting cycle was predictable: the consultant class erupted into a tizzy.
They called for his resignation and even fought over who should replace him.This week, veteran Democratic strategist James Carville went as far as to suggest that David Hogg — the ousted DNC vice chair whom Carville last year labeled a “contemptible little twerp” — take the reins of the national party committee.
But as was the case in past episodes, that’s as far as it has gone.Martin is again digging in, his allies are circling the wagons and powerful Democrats are either standing by his side or staying out of it.
On Sunday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Martin “has my full support.” Potential 2028 presidential candidates could also apply pressure, but none has called for his ouster.That leaves the DNC members themselves holding the most consequential power over Martin’s future.
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