In a closely watched race to lead the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler’s bid for the position ended in defeat. The election, which concluded today at the DNC’s winter meeting outside Washington, D.C., saw Ken Martin from Minnesota emerge as the new chair of the national party.

Wikler, known for his successful tenure in Wisconsin, had amassed a broad coalition of support from various sectors:

Political Figures

  – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York)

  – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York)

  – Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (California)

  – Governors including Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), Andy Beshear (Kentucky), Laura Kelly (Kansas), Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico), Maura Healey (Massachusetts), Tina Kotek (Oregon), and Janet Mills (Maine).

Organizations and Unions

  – Wikler’s campaign was backed by major public sector unions like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC), UNITE HERE, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

Media and Advocacy Groups

  – Wikler received endorsements from advocacy groups like MoveOn and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), along with centrist organizations such as Third Way.

Donors

  – Financial backing for Wikler’s campaign included significant contributions from Reid Hoffman and the George Soros-funded Democracy PAC, highlighting his ability to attract high-profile donors.

Despite this wide array of support, the final vote counts were not in Wikler’s favor. It wasn’t even close:

– Ken Martin: 246.5 votes

– Ben Wikler: 134.5 votes

– Martin O’Malley: 44 votes

– Abstain: 4 votes

– Faiz Shakir: 2 votes

– Jason Paul: 1 vote

Wikler’s campaign was built on his record of organizing and fundraising in Wisconsin, where he implemented a strategy of continuous voter engagement and grassroots mobilization.

In the end, none of that mattered.