Ken Martin by Minne2020 / Wikimedia Commons
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is reeling from internal turmoil and a deepening financial crisis just months into the tenure of its new chairman, Ken Martin, the New York Times reported June 18.
“Fund-raising from major donors — some of whom Mr. Martin has still not spoken with — has slowed sharply,” the Times reported. “At the same time, he has expanded the party’s financial commitments to every state, and even to far-flung territories like Guam.”
According to the Times, the DNC entered May with just $18 million on hand, while the Republican National Committee reported $67.4 million. Two officials said party leaders are now weighing whether to borrow money in the coming months.
Rufus Gifford, who served as finance chairman for Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign, expressed frustration with the party’s growing disarray.
“What they are seeing is headline after headline of incompetence and infighting,” Gifford told the Times. “We need to come together and focus on the issues at hand. That’s got to happen now. And I mean today.”
The Times report comes shortly after a highly publicized clash between the DNC and 25-year-old progressive activist David Hogg.
After briefly serving as DNC vice chair, Hogg ignited controversy by pledging to spend $20 million targeting sitting Democrats he deemed ineffective. On June 11, the DNC voted to strip Hogg of his position and force a new election, Politico first reported.
Privately, Martin’s confidence also appears to be wavering.
In a leaked May 15 call with DNC officials, Martin said, “I don’t know if I want to do this anymore.” Addressing Hogg, he added, “I don’t think you intended this, but you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to.”
While Republican fundraising surged by nearly $300 million between January and April, DNC revenue dropped by $4 million during the same period, the Times reported.
Meanwhile, recent polls and political analyses suggest Democratic morale has cratered since President Donald Trump’s sweeping victory last November.
A June 1 CNN poll found that just 16% of Americans identify Democrats as the party of strong leadership, while 40% said the same about Republicans. An earlier May poll showed only one-third of Democratic voters felt optimistic about their party’s future — down from nearly 60% last summer.
Young male voters appear to be abandoning the Democratic Party in growing numbers, citing concerns that Democrats are out of touch and weak, according to June Politico findings.
Most recently, CatholicVote reported that Democrats are rapidly losing ground with Christian voters. A new poll found that 75% of Christians now express little or no trust in the party.
Despite mounting warnings, Martin dismissed calls to reset the party’s message days before his February election, insisting, “Anyone saying we need to start over with a new message is wrong.”
