ICYMI: DNC Chair Ken Martin Slams Trump’s Budget, Shares Dems’ Initiative to Organize Everywhere To Fight Back Arrow

Over the weekend, following the passage of Trump's billionaire-first budget bill, DNC Chair Ken Martin traveled to Tennessee, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to share how Democrats will hold Trump accountable for his disastrous budget - touting Democrats' "Organizing Summer" campaign as just one example of how the DNC is immediately organizing voters, rebuilding Democratic power across the country, and working to elect Democrats who will fight for working families.

Take a look at some of the coverage below:

In Tennessee:

The Bulwark: A (Surprisingly) Revealing Conversation With DNC Chair Ken Martin

[Lauren Egen, 7/13/25]

"LAUREN EGAN: We're in Tennessee, where just twenty years ago Democrats were winning the state. But that version of the party seems really far away now. How do you expand the party's tent?

"KEN MARTIN: We win through addition, not through subtraction. That sometimes means we have dissent and debate and differences of opinion. But at the end of the day, that's okay within a party like ours. We are a coalition party. That means that we have to have conversations with people who might not agree with us on every single issue, but are there with us on the majority of issues.

"We need to force ourselves out of our comfort zone in terms of where we organize and then how we organize. We cannot just show up three months before an election and have the first conversation with voters in any part of the country. We actually have to build trust again with voters. That's the biggest thing that we have right now as a party, is a trust deficit. …

"EGAN: The DNC just launched its 'organizing summer' campaign to recruit volunteers, register people to vote, etc. It feels to me like a very traditional way of doing things, especially at a time when so much of politics is happening online. Do you feel like you're fighting the last war?

"MARTIN: No, I don't because it's not a traditional organizing program where we're knocking [on] doors. We're actually going into those in-person spaces-book clubs, community festivals, sporting events, clubs, and bars. …

"You can't just organize in-person spaces at the expense of digital, or digital at the expense of being in-person.

"There's things such as online knitting clubs, [and we're] making sure we have our people in those spaces talking about what we're doing, talking about politics. That micro-, nano-influencer organizing in those digital spaces that we've seen other people do so well is important. And then being on every single podcast and every single big digital platform is really a big part of it as well.

"EGAN: Going back to how you win in more red parts of the country, how do you change the national perception that Democrats aren't actually a 'big tent'? That you have to conform in order to fit in? I'm thinking especially about voters who might feel differently on issues such as guns and abortion.

"MARTIN: When we are out there talking about issues, we don't shame someone if they say, 'Well, I'm pro-gun.' We don't try to convince them that their position is wrong. We talk about the things where maybe we have some alignment. This is why it's so important to focus on an economic agenda, because it's the one thing, no matter where you're at on all these other issues, it's the one thing that unites everyone within our coalition."

Nashville Banner: National Democratic Chair Sets Aim on Tennessee

[Sarah Grace Taylor, 7/14/25]

"A-list Democrats are suddenly really interested in Nashville. …

"Part of this influx comes from Ken Martin, the new DNC chair, who wants to redirect campaign money and resources to the south over the next decade.

"'This is the new slogan at the DNC: When you organize everywhere, you can win anywhere,' Martin said, noting that under his leadership, the party is generally trying to focus on areas it has traditionally neglected. …

"'We can't keep ignoring states like Tennessee,' Martin said. 'If we do, we're going to be on the wrong side of things.' …

"Beyond the two immediate Congressional races, Martin says Democrats need to focus on Tennessee over the next decade as population shifts position several southern states to gain long-term political influence.

"'Wayne Gretzky said you have to skate to where the puck will be, not where the puck is,' Martin said. 'I believe that we have to start competing here now, given the population growth here, because Tennessee is going to be a critical battleground state that we have to win in the future.' …

"'The South will decide the president in 2032 and the South will decide the congressional majorities in 2032,' Martin predicted. 'It's not like we're going to win everything overnight, but through sustained investment and building infrastructure the right way and paying attention to states like Tennessee, we can put ourselves in a position to actually win down the road.'"

In Michigan:

WZMQ: Democrats Slam Federal Budget Bill, Launch Messaging Blitz Ahead of 2026 Midterms

[Sophia Murphy, 7/11/25]

"Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said the legislation, backed exclusively by Republicans in both chambers of Congress, will strip away key safety net programs while delivering tax cuts for the wealthy.

"'This isn't just bad policy-it's immoral,' Martin said. 'When you take food from starving children, kick seniors out of nursing homes, and close rural hospitals, you're turning your back on who we are as a country.'

"According to Martin, the impacts of the act will be felt severely in Michigan. He said Congressional analysis showed the budget could result in more than 453,000 Michiganders losing health insurance, 123,000 losing food assistance, and nearly 270,000 losing jobs. He also warned that at least four rural hospitals in Michigan are at risk of closing under the plan.

"The Democratic Party plans to make the bill a centerpiece of its 2026 campaign strategy, aiming to regain control of the Senate and expand its presence in the House.

"'There's no doubt this is one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation in decades,' Martin said. 'We're going to make sure every voter knows exactly who's responsible, and we're going to hold Republicans accountable at the ballot box.'

"Martin also emphasized the personal stakes, recounting his own upbringing dependent on Medicaid and food assistance programs. 'I'm here today because someone gave a damn,' he said. 'We can't take the ladder of opportunity away from the next generation.'"

In Pennsylvania:

Philadelphia Tribune: 'It cannot be ignored any longer': DNC chair admits party losing ground with Black voters

[Marco Cerino, 7/14/25]

"Speaking with The Philadelphia Tribune on Sunday, Martin said he wants to visit neighborhoods and win back trust with Black voters through direct messaging and engaging local leaders.

"'We have to remember that it's not a singular occurrence of losing ground in the Black community,' Martin said. 'We've been losing ground with big parts of our constituency for years. Part of the reason we're losing ground with the Black community, but I would argue with many communities, is that we have such a transactional relationship with voters.' …

"Martin said the party's new organizing efforts will rely on local leaders and local influencers who know the communities' needs and leanings.

"'Engagement will happen online and in physical spaces,' he said. Martin referenced a longtime resident in the predominantly Black 7th Ward in New Orleans, who will talk with candidates on her porch. Her endorsements carry significant weight among her neighbors. …

"He said the party is committed to getting back into particular bases and engage residents, starting with its 'Organizing Summer' campaign."

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