New York state Sen. James Skoufis has made a surprising decision to drop out of the Democratic National Committee chair race. In a move that has caught many off guard, Skoufis has thrown his support behind Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin. This announcement was first shared with POLITICO, where Skoufis expressed his belief that Martin is the candidate who will bring the party back to its roots and focus on expanding the Democratic tent.
Skoufis, who is known for winning a state Senate district that was previously held by Donald Trump, has been critical of the Washington, D.C., consultant class throughout his campaign. He has accused them of leading the party astray and believes that it is time to take power outside of the DC Beltway. Despite not garnering much support for his own campaign, Skoufis’ endorsement of Martin is seen as a significant boost for the Minnesota chair.
The DNC chair race has recently seen the entry of Faiz Shakir, who previously led Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. Shakir, a progressive strategist, has criticized the lack of vision and conviction within the Democratic Party and has entered the race to shake things up. However, Martin and Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler remain the frontrunners in the race, with strong support from DNC members.
Martin, in accepting Skoufis’ endorsement, commended the state senator as an effective messenger who has successfully built diverse coalitions in deep red districts. He expressed gratitude for Skoufis’ support and stated that he is honored to have him as an advocate for his campaign.
As the DNC chair race heats up, candidates will face off in a forum in Michigan on Thursday. While Shakir did not qualify for this event, Martin, Wikler, and other contenders, including former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, will have the opportunity to make their case to DNC members ahead of the February 1st vote. The race for DNC chair continues to draw attention as the party looks to rebuild and strengthen its position moving forward.
