Ken Martin Seeks Outside Help To Boost Dnc Fundraising

Ken Martin is calling in the cavalry to boost fundraising for the beleaguered Democratic National Committee.

Martin, who has faced increasing scrutiny in recent weeks over his leadership and the party’s cash-flow woes, told DNC members on a call Monday that he’s putting together a special committee of big-name fundraisers to help bring more “financial firepower” to the DNC, according to three people on the call granted anonymity to disclose details of the private conversation.

The embattled chair said outreach has begun to potential committee members, though he did not share who might be part of the new effort or when it would formally launch. But he acknowledged “we need more resources” and said he was prepared to do what it takes to boost the DNC’s finances, telling members he’s “on it — and we’re ratcheting up.”

“People are thrilled he’s stepping up and getting help where he needs it, where the committee needs it, which is with big-dollar donors,” said a DNC member on the call, adding that “at the grassroots level he’s doing well.”

Another person on the call described Martin as “clear-eyed” about the stakes and said he “did not sound panicked at all.”

NOTUS first reported Martin’s remarks Monday, which were made during a regularly scheduled call with DNC members to provide updates ahead of next week’s meeting in Austin, including recapping the party’s proposed 2028 primary calendar.

Martin previously indicated he’s open to outside help with fundraising as calls grow among donors, bundlers and donor advisers for him to shake things up, with not just the midterms but the next presidential election at stake. The DNC is more than $2 million in debt, while the Republican National Committee has grown its war chest to over $128 million. And a Supreme Court ruling axing coordination limits between parties and candidates has only widened the GOP’s advantage.

Martin has repeatedly defended the DNC’s fundraising, writing in a recent Substack post how the party has surpassed several benchmarks from this point in the 2017-2018 cycle.

His allies have dismissed the criticism surrounding Martin as little more than sour grapes from those who supported the Minnesotan’s rivals for party chair last year, and have suggested the party’s financial fortunes will improve if Democrats win at least one chamber of Congress in the midterms.