Few Minnesota Dems backing Ken Martin as DNC boss faces calls to resign

The former longtime leader of Minnesota's DFL party is facing calls to resign his post as chair of the Democratic National Committee, and few in Minnesota are rushing to his defense.

Party activists and some members of Congress started calling for Ken Martin's removal almost immediately after he released the 2024 election autopsy report this week following months of delays.

Martin had promised to release the report when he successfully ran for DNC chair last year, but what was made public was an incomplete draft that Martin said he was "not proud of."

Though some Minnesota Democrats are still publicly standing behind Martin, other high-ranking elected officials appear more reluctant to support him.

Sen. Tina Smith, Secretary of State Steve Simon, Rep. Betty McCollum and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan all declined to comment when asked by the Minnesota Star Tribune about the report and if they think Martin should step down.

Flanagan, who's running for U.S. Senate, publicly backed Martin when he ran in a contentious race for DNC chair.

Reps. Angie Craig, who's also running for Senate, and Kelly Morrison both did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story.

Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who's running for governor, both kept their responses brief when asked the same questions.

"It's time for everyone to move on from this and focus on November," said Walz's spokesman, Teddy Tschann.

Pressed to learn if Walz thinks Martin should resign, his office clarified that the governor does not think he should resign and is not making those calls.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Klobuchar said the senator is "focused on looking forward and winning elections in Minnesota." When subsequently pressed to know if Klobuchar thinks Martin should resign, her campaign said she is not calling for him to step down.

Former DFL Chair Brian Melendez, Martin's predecessor at the state party, said Minnesota Democrats' silence on Martin is a clear signal they think negatively about his handling of the report.

"You don't want to be on the wrong side of this, because if Ken doesn't survive, you don't want to be saying ‘I support him,'" Melendez said. "And if Ken does survive, you don't want to say ‘I don't support him,' because, I mean, Ken's got a vindictive streak, and he will remember.

"What's the upside to saying something about it out loud?"

Democrats running in competitive U.S. House races this year also avoided weighing in.

In the Second District, Minnesota's most competitive House seat, former Lakeville Mayor Matt Little, who was recently endorsed by the local party to replace Craig, and state Rep. Kaela Berg both did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

State Sen. Matt Klein, another Democrat running in the Second District, said he had not read the report but applauded Martin for his work as DFL chair. However, Klein declined to comment when pressed to know if Martin should resign from the DNC.

Democrat Jake Johnson, whom national Democrats are backing in the First District against GOP Rep. Brad Finstad, also declined to comment for this story.

Though Minnesota DNC member Leah Midgarden said she is disappointed about the report and thinks it was "amateur," she believes Martin's "record speaks for itself."

Midgarden said she does not think Martin should resign, and if a measure emerges in the party to oust him, she will oppose it.

"It's just really disappointing that I think there are folks who are grasping at straws to find an excuse for why Ken should resign," Midgarden said.

DFL Chair Richard Carlbom, Rep. Ilhan Omar and Attorney General Keith Ellison are also standing by Martin.

"In this moment of crisis for America, I have no interest in playing theater critic," Ellison said. "Ken Martin has a well-established history of winning tough elections and should be given the opportunity to continue doing that."

Though Omar thinks the autopsy report should have been released sooner, she still has "full confidence" in Martin.

"I've known him for years and believe he is the right leader to move our party forward," Omar said, adding she is satisfied the report is public "so that we can move on and focus on what's important: winning."

Carlbom said now that the report is public the focus needs to shift to "winning elections and making life more affordable for working people."

"Ken Martin brings a proven playbook to the DNC that delivered a 15-year statewide win streak in Minnesota. That's investing everywhere, strengthening state parties, and organizing year-round," Carlbom said.

The Minnesota Star Tribune has reached out to the DNC for comment.

_____

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 2:59 PM.