Wisconsin Dem surging in DNC chair race

[marmar]

“An honest broker”: Wisconsin Democrat "generates excitement" in race for DNC chair
Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler is an "underdog" whose support appears to be surging

By Russell Payne
Staff Reporter
Published January 4, 2025 5:45AM (EST)


(Salon) In the run-up to the Democratic National Committee chair election, Ben Wikler, the Democratic Party chair in Wisconsin, has garnered support from across the party’s ideological spectrum and from all levels of the party. While his supporters say he’s the best man for the job, they caution that it’ll be an uphill battle to get new blood the top spot.

Wikler has been the party chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party since 2019, but before that, he was a media personality, activist and a Democratic Party staffer. Wikler worked on former Sen. Al Franken’s, D-Minn., radio show before working on Sen. Sherrod Brown’s, D-Ohio, 2006 Senate campaign. He served as an executive at Change.org and as the Washington Director of MoveOn.org. And, ahead of the 2016 primaries, Wikler helped head up MoveOn.org’s efforts to recruit Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to run for president while also helping advocate for Syrian refugees in 2015.

His career in activism and Democratic organizing, however, isn’t what most of his backers point to when they discuss why they’re backing Wikler. Rep. Mark Pocan, the Democrat from Wisconsin’s Second District, told Salon that he’s backing Wikler because he sees him as a DNC outsider who can exceed at the three things a party chair needs to do: communicate, fundraise and organize.

....(snip)....

“What it means is that he’s put an actual investment into grassroots — a financial investment as well as a physical investment like staff. People have interactions with voters even when they’re not asking for a vote,” Pocan said. “Honestly it's the totality. I’ve never seen the amount of offices and the organizational level to get out the vote. In Madison, turnout is at 93 percent plus, which sounds like a mad up number it’s so high, but it's what you get when you have that sort of organization.” ....................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/01/04/an-honest-broker-wisconsin-democrat-generates-excitement-in-race-for-dnc-chair/

[milestogo]

1. Great! I hope he wins!

[Callie1979]

2. From what I've seen I like him. Hope he's motivated to do what's needed

We must look at the big picture

[Oneear]

3. Midwest Values Common Ground that works together

We Need to have people who will speak about the Galvanized Water Pipe that was Dipped in Zinc that Needs to be removed

[dalton99a]

4. Sounds like the best person for the job.

[ms liberty]

5. On Air America 20 years ago he was obviously a bright guy. I still think so

I'd love to see him win.

[Arazi]

6. Wikler's got solid credentials and a terrific track record in WI

Of transforming that state’s Dem party into a very effective machine. I hope he (and David Hogg) make it in.

That said, Nancy Pelosi hasn’t weighed in yet with an old guy pick to torpedo his chances 😐

[dalton99a]

7. The old guard could have prevented what happened. It is time for new blood.

[OrlandoDem2]

8. It's time to invest in Florida again. We have to start preparing for 2032.

We cannot rely on the Blue Wall in the next decade. We need to flip Florida, Alaska, and Texas. Then we need to make the Blue Wall bluer, plus flip Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina. In short, we really need a 50 state strategy again.

[awesomerwb1]

10. What blue wall?

[jimfields33]

11. I think they mean Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania

[awesomerwb1]

12. I know. I was being sarcastic bc they're purple at best now

[OrlandoDem2]

15. Correct. Which is why we need a true 50 state strategy.

[awesomerwb1]

17. I agree with that.

Just wish we were having this discussion back in 1996ish

[Polybius]

13. I disagree

Too many Republicans have moved there. I don't like sending money to places where we can't win.

[OrlandoDem2]

16. However, NPAs are fast growing. NPAs plus Democrats far exceed GOP numbers.

The DNC needs to put money into organizing at the local level. Voter registration. County/City commissioners, school boards, etc.

Build from the ground up. I’m not talking about money at the gubernatorial level.

There’s one big caveat. If Matt Gaetz runs for Governor and wins the nomination then the DNC needs to go all in on that race. Enough said. The GOP will be in a mess in 2026 in FL. The AG, Ashley Moody, is also a problem for the GOP. She should’ve prosecuted Gaetz but didn’t. She’s going to flip flop and have no real answer for that even if Gaetz doesn’t run. Then there’s Byron Donald. He’s a lunatic. There is a strong argument that the DNC needs to spend money in Florida right now in early 2025 because moving forward it’s a potential cluster for the GOP.

So, from an outsider perspective I can see your point. But as with many political situations there’s a ton of nuance.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. He's an operational guy, with creds. We've had money guy after money guy.

We need logistics. He's the guy.

[dsc]

14. He and Martin both have good records of performance

I will say NC's chair had a pretty good election too but she is very young and has only been chair here for a short time. We could do worse than him and Martin and they are well above the other options in my opinion. Emmanuel and O'Malley have been out of the game for the past few years and O'Malley doesn't have a great record of helping others to win.