Former vice-presidential hopeful and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is backing Ken Martin, the Democratic state party chair in Minnesota, in his bid to take the helm of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
“In Minnesota, Ken has built a national model for how to elect Democrats in a competitive state,” Walz said in a statement released through Martin’s team to The New York Times. “I have seen Ken’s leadership in action, and it’s exactly what we need from our next D.N.C. chair.”
Martin said in a statement on X that he was “honored” to have Walz’s backing, calling him a “champion of the working class.”
The endorsement is notable, particularly given Walz initially declined to wade into the race late last year.
Martin and state party chair Ben Wikler of Wisconsin have racked up impressive endorsements in the race.
Martin’s team has said he has more than 100 endorsements from DNC committee members, though Walz’s endorsement is his most prominent one so far. Wikler has received nods from high-profile figures and groups like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Other candidates running in the race have included former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), whose team has said he has more than 60 DNC committee member endorsements; New York state Sen. James Skoufis (D), who said he’s got the backing of more than 20 members; former presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson; former Department of Homeland Security official Nate Snyder; attorney Jason Paul and former Arkansas congressional candidate Quintessa Hathaway.
The race to replace outgoing Chair Jaime Harrison is Feb. 1.
