Ken Martin, head of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, announced Tuesday that he is running for the job. He begins the contest with support from 83 members of the DNC, he said, almost one-fifth of the body. Martin confirmed his candidacy in a text to POLITICO. It was first reported by the New York Times.

Minnesota Democratic Party chair Ken Martin has formally announced his bid to lead the Democratic National Committee.

Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and commissioner of the Social Security Administration, on Monday became the first person to announce a bid to lead the Democratic National Committee as the party plots a post-election path forward.

Ken Martin has already garnered the endorsement of 83 members of the Democratic National Committee — nearly one-fifth of the body.

Martin O'Malley and Ken Martin are the two candidates are currently vying to lead the DNC, left in disarray after the 2024 elections.

The Democratic National Committee announced on Monday that it will hold its chair’s election on Feb. 1, an early indicator of the party’s direction following Kamala Harris’ stinging loss this month. The contest will be held at the committee’s winter meeting at the National Harbor in Maryland that begins on Jan.