Apr 24, 2025 - Politics & Policy

DNC unveils new 50-state strategy: "Organize everywhere"

Andrew Solender

DNC chair Ken Martin, wearing a blue suit and holding a microphone while speaking at a podium with a mock yellow "Danger, drowning" sign on it, in front of a teal curtain. — Ken Martin speaks at a "Win With Workers" rally at the DNC Midwestern Candidate Forum on Jan. 16. Photo: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for One Fair Wage

The Democratic National Committee on Thursday rolled out a plan to significantly ramp up its financial contributions to state parties — especially in Republican-controlled states.

Why it matters: It's a redux of the 50-state strategy that many Democrats credit with their decisive victories in the 2006 and 2008 elections.

Former DNC chair Howard Dean, the architect of the original 50-state strategy, said on a DNC press call: "We have not been anything but a Washington, D.C.-centric party since 2008."

Driving the news: DNC chair Ken Martin, the former chair of Minnesota's Democratic party, told reporters the national party will donate a baseline of $17,500 to each state and territorial party.

That's an increase of $5,000 per month over the DNC's current contribution, Martin said. Parties in red states will get an additional $5,000 per month.
Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb, the president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, said contributions to state parties will go from 8 percent of the DNC budget to over 20 percent.

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DNC unveils new 50-state strategy: "Organize everywhere"

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