DNC Chair Jaime Harrison has advised the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee of plans for four candidate forums in the new year and set the date of the DNC Winter Meeting for January 30 – February 1, 2025. The election of DNC officers – including Chair, Vice Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary and National Finance Chair – is scheduled for February 1. 2025. The meeting will be held in National Harbor, Maryland.

According to Chair Harrison, the DNC will host a series of four forums – a combination of in-person and virtual, for candidates to make their case as why they should be elected the next DNC Chair and engage with DNC members. As more details become available about the forums, information will be posted. The forums will be inclusive of DNC members and grassroots, every day Democrats from all over the country, as the forums will be livestream both in-person and virtual forums. The forums will provide opportunities for engagement of grassroots Democrats throughout the United States, but will focus on the questions and concerns of the DNC members, elected representatives who will ultimately vote to elect the incoming officers. More details on the forums will be proved in the coming weeks.

Announced Candidates – As of 12.02.2024

• Martin O’Malley: Currently serves as commissioner of the Social Security Administration since December 2023; former Maryland governor
• Ken Martin: Currently a vice chairman of the DNC; currently chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
• James Skoufis: Currently a New York State Senator; has served in the New York legislature since 2013
• Ben Wikler: Currently chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin since 2019
• Robert Houton:  2024 U.S. Senate candidate from Maryland; Founder, Coalition for Families, Teens, Students; President, Houton Strategies

Below is the DNC Officer Election Timeline:

• December 12, 2024: The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet to establish the Rules of Procedure for nominating the DNC Chair and other Officers – Vice Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary and National Financial Chair
• In January 2025: The DNC will host a series of four candidate forums – a combination of virtual and in-person
• January 30, 2025, through February 1, 2025: The DNC will host the DNC Winter Meeting for DNC Members. The DNC member vote for the incoming DNC Officers will be held on February 1, 2025

DNC Officer Election Process:

• Role of DNC Staff:

  • Host candidate forums
  • Brief interested candidates on the process
  • Facilitate communication with DNC Members
  • Conduct the member vote
  • Chair Harrison and all DNC staff will maintain complete neutrality throughout the process, including abstaining from endorsing or campaigning for any candidate.

• Role of the Rules and Bylaws Committee:

  • Recommend the Rules of Procedure that guide the nominations and election process, including ballot access requirements and the process by which candidates file, to full DNC membership
    • In 2021, candidates were required to submit a nominating statement alongside the signatures of 40 DNC members. According to Chair Harrison, it is the DNC intent t utilize this 40-signature threshold for candidate participation in the forums

• Role of DNC Members:

  • Approve Rules of Procedure for election and nomination process
  • Engage with candidates, including through participation in candidate forums
  • Offer their signature to support candidates’ access to participate in the forums and access to the ballot
  • Ultimately vote at the DNC Winter Meeting

• DNC Members:

  • There are 448 active DNC members including 20 state elected members from 57 states, territories and Democrats Abroad
  • Members representing 16 affiliate groups
  • 73 current at-large members elected by the DNC