The United States Democratic Party Elects Ken Martin as New Leader

The United States Democratic Party elected Ken Martin as its new leader on Saturday afternoon – early morning today in Spain – in a vote where he secured 246 votes from the 428 delegates. He thus prevailed in the first round against rivals such as Ben Wikler (Wisconsin), former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, and seven other candidates.

Martin previously led the party in the state of Minnesota and now takes a significant step to undertake the task of rebuilding a faction still recovering from the crushing defeat in the presidential elections. He will also have to find the best opponent against Republican Donald Trump.

"The Democratic Party is the party of the workers, and it's time to roll up our sleeves and fight everywhere, in every election, and at every level of government," stated a communiqué from the political force, which gathered in a hotel near Washington to change course and engage in self-criticism.

"These elections mark a new chapter in the leadership of the Democratic National Committee, and both Donald Trump and his billionaire allies are on notice: we will hold them accountable for cheating working families and defeat them at the polls," Martin expressed after his election. During his speech, he also emphasized the need to reconnect Democrats with the so-called blue-collar voters - the working class - and take the electoral fight to all 50 states, even to the strongholds of conservative politics.

"This is not a chess game where everyone moves their pieces back and forth in a respectful and timed manner. This is a guerrilla war in political form," said Katherine Jeanes, deputy director of the Democratic Party in the state of North Carolina, before the vote.

However, the new Democratic leader is 51 years old and a little-known, discreet activist. He studied Political Science and History and began his political career in 1990 as an intern for Senator Paul Wellstone. He was later involved in Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Among his significant achievements are the 25 consecutive state elections that the Democratic Party has won in Minnesota since Martin took control in 2011. He has two children and has always maintained a modest lifestyle. "I don't rub shoulders with millionaires," he has said on several occasions. In many ways, he is the antithesis of Trump.