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JUST IN: DNC Elects New Chair Who Wanted Trump Tried For ‘Treason’

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The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Saturday elected Minnesota party leader Ken Martin, who once called for President Donald Trump to be tried for “treason,” as its next national chair.

Martin emerged victorious over a crowded field that included former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, New York state Sen. James Skoufis and former Maryland Senate candidate Robert Houton, among several others. Gun control activist David Hogg and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson also floated bids of their own, though support did not materialize.

Eight of the top candidates, including Martin, sat for a forum with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart, Jen Psaki and Simone Sanders on Friday evening. At one point during the event, Dr. Quintessa Hathaway opted to share “something that’s been on [her] heart here over the last couple days.” She then began singing, “You fight on, you fight on, you fight on. When your government is doing you wrong, you fight on.”

The musical masterpiece failed to move the needle, however, as Martin ultimately emerged victorious.

The election marks the first step in the DNC’s recovery process after disastrous election losses this past November. “We have one team, one team, the Democratic Party,” Martin said after becoming DNC chair. “The fight is for our values. The fight is for working people. The fight right now is against Donald Trump and the billionaires who bought this country.”

Martin speaks with reporters at the Democratic National Convention

Over the past eight years, Martin has served as a DNC vice chair and has led the association of state Democratic Party chairs. He ultimately managed to beat out Walker by roughly 100 votes among 428 ballots cast by DNC members, who gathered for the party’s annual meeting just outside Washington D.C., according to a report from Fox News.

In his victory speech, Martin called for unity among Democrats as the party looks to blunt the Trump Administration’s momentum in the 2026 midterm elections. “We need to go on offense,” he said. “We’re going to go out there and take this fight to Donald Trump and the Republicans.”

Given Martin’s past comments on President Trump, it would appear unlikely that the party will be backing away from vehement attacks and sensationalist rhetoric anytime soon. In 2020, the new DNC chair referred to Trump as a “traitor” and called for him to be tried for treason.

“[Donald Trump] should be immediately impeached and then put on trial for treason,” Martin wrote on June 29, 2020, citing an anonymously sourced news story. “His actions led to the deaths of American soldiers. He is a traitor to our nation and all those who have served.”

Former Vice President Harris spoke with Martin, Wikler and O’Malley ahead of the final vote, though she ultimately refused to endorse any candidate, according to a report from Fox News. In a message to attendees, Harris stressed that the party has some “hard work ahead” but pledged to be with the party “every step of the way.”

The former vice president’s prominent role at the meeting could be an indicator of her future political ambitions. A recent poll from McLaughlin and Associates found Harris as the frontrunner in the 2028 Democratic Party presidential primary, as the former vice president beat out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Outgoing DNC Chair Jaimie Harrison has called for the party to maintain its focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and identity politics. “That is my identity, and it is not politics. It is my life. And the people that I need in the party, that I need to stand up for me, have to recognize that. You cannot run away from that,” Harrison said while speaking to party leaders back in November.

DEI was a heavy focus during Friday’s candidate forum, suggesting that Harrison will likely be getting his wish.

RELATED: Outgoing DNC Chair Vows To Burn Party On The Way Out: ‘I Am Naming Names’