Democrats to elect a new leader of the National Committee while the party has trouble repairing the brand

Oxon Hill, Md. (AP) – Democrats, desperately looking for a new message and messengers to postpone the Trump administration, elect a new party leader on Saturday in a low -profile race that could have great implications for their future.

The new president of the National Democratic Committee will succeed Jaime Harrison, who did not look for another mandate after a tumultuous election in 2024 during which Trump became the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades and achieved gains Modest with the main democratic districts – African -American, Latinos and the voters of the working class, among them.

“The world needs the Democratic Party to get up from the carpet,” said Ben Wikler, the head of the Wisconsin State party, who is a leading candidate, before the vote. He said the nation faces a “Trumpian Terror moment”.

More than 400 members of the DNC of each American state and territory were in the suburbs of Washington for the election, which presented a group of candidates dominated by party initiates.

The main pretenders, Wikler and Ken Martin from Minnesota, are low -profile state party chairs. They promised to refocus the democratic message on the voters of the working class, to strengthen democratic infrastructure across the country and to improve the party’s rapid anti-top response system.

They undertook not to avoid the dedication of democrats to diversity and minority groups, a pillar of the modern party. But if Martin, 51, or Wikler, 43, was elected, as expected, the first white man to direct the DNC since 2011.

Also in the race: the former governor of Maryland and head of the Biden administration, Martin O’malley, and Faiz Shakir, who directed the last presidential campaign of the Senator of Vermont Bernie Sanders.

The candidate Marianne Williamson, activist and author, surprised the members of the DNC before the start of the vote by approving Martin as “our best chance of reducing the court with the corruption funded by the billionaire who will obstruct and limit our possibilities.”

Most candidates recognize that The democratic brand is seriously damagedBut few are promising fundamental changes. Indeed, almost three months after Donald Trump won the popular vote and acquired land among the main democratic constituencies, there is little agreement on what has gone exactly.

The election comes less than two weeks after the inauguration of Trump as Democratic leaders struggle to face The volume of decrees, pardons, personnel changes and controversial relationships taking shape in the new administration. The next DNC ​​president would serve as a face of the democratic response, while helping to coordinate the political strategy and to repair the party brand.

According to a Quinnipiac university, only 31% of voters have a favorable opinion on the Democratic Party, survey Released this week which offers a spectacular contrast with Trump’s GOP. Forty-three percent of voters have a favorable opinion on the Republican Party.

Shakir called for scanning changes within the party, such as more coordination with unions and less concentration on minority groups sorted by race and sex. The only Muslim looking for the presidency, Shakir was alone during a candidate forum this week to oppose the creation of a Muslim caucus at the DNC.

But he had a hard time gaining ground.

Shakir refused to collect funds for the competition, decorating his modest stand during the this week’s gathering with images drawn by his young children with pencils. On the other hand, Martin and Wikler organized potential supporters in large hotel suites adorned with dozens of printed panels professionally and have offered t-shirts, sunglasses and food.

Wikler faced questions about his relationship with Democratic Donor Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co -founder of LinkedIn. But he threw his fundraising links as an asset. Indeed, President DNC ​​is expected to raise tens of millions of dollars to help Democrats gain elections.

Some Democratic leaders remain concerned about the leadership of their party.

“As positive as me and as much hope as me, I look at this in real time, thinking myself:” We are really in difficulty because I do not see the desire to change, “said the Democratic president of Kansas Jeanna Reass, candidate for the DNC vice-president.

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