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Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is shooting down the idea that he could throw his support behind one of his rivals in the race to become Democratic National Committee chair, saying he sees a viable path to victory in the eight-person race.
Mr. O’Malley, who most recently served as commissioner of the Social Security Administration, is looking to close strong in a contest in which the consensus frontrunners are a pair of midwesterners: Ken Martin, head of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, and Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democrats.
“Nope,” Mr. O’Malley told The Washington Times Wednesday when asked whether he has considered endorsing an opponent to help swing the race. “We are still best positioned to win and are still gaining strength as ever, as over 100 [DNC members] remain undecided.”
There is still a sense the race is up in the air as the DNC’s 448 voting members gear up to cast their support behind their preferred pick to replace outgoing chair Jaime Harrison at the DNC’s winter meeting Saturday in National Harbor, Md.
Marianne Williamson, a self-help author, and former Bernie Sanders campaign chief Faiz Shakir also are in the race.
Mr. Martin has touted his 25-0 record in statewide elections in Minnesota and claims to have locked down the support of 200 DNC members, putting him near the majority he needs to win.
He announced this week he scored an endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wikler has played up the track record of success leading the party in a battleground state, and also insists momentum is on his side. He recently claimed to have the support of 151 members.
Mr. Wikler also has secured the support of the four largest public sector unions: AFSCME, AFT, NEA and SEIU.
The chair will assume the reins of a party looking to pick up the pieces after a disappointing election cycle in which President Biden was swapped out for Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to President Trump.
English (US) ·