Operative Martin seeks DFL chair

Longtime Minnesota political operative Ken Martin announced Monday that he is running for DFL Party chairman.

Martin is the first -- and may be the only -- announced candidate for the DFL job. The party will hold its vote on the new chairman in February, when outgoing Chairman Brian Melendez completes his term.

The only other known potential contender, DFL activist and Minneapolis attorney Mike Rothman, said Monday that he would sit the race out.

"I have decided to support Ken Martin for chair," Rothman said. "I believe that Ken, with our support, will succeed and help the state DFL Party move forward."

In a letter to party leaders, Martin said, "I am focused and determined to continue fighting for the values of our party and the people of Minnesota. The fight in front of us will be very difficult."

Melendez leaves after a tumultuous political season that saw the first DFL governor elected in a generation, but also major losses nearly everywhere else. Minnesota Democrats lost control of both the state House and Senate in November. Even on the usually DFL-stalwart Iron Range, Democrats lost the Eighth Congressional District to an upstart Republican. They won the governor's race by only about 9,000 votes.

Martin is considered to have an inside track to lead the party. He is trusted by incoming governor Mark Dayton and most recently served as Dayton's recount manager.

Martin also worked for presidential contender John Kerry in his 2004 bid, gubernatorial candidate Mike Hatch's 2006 bid and the 2008 quest to pass the constitutional amendment to increase the sales tax for outdoor causes and the arts.

In the past, Martin has been more of a back-office operator than a front-of-the-camera spokesman.

He may have helped himself with DFLers who have complained that the party hasn't worked social media forces by including both Twitter and Facebook links for his campaign, although he has been an infrequent tweeter over the past year. He may also have strengthened his bid by running with well-respected Marge Hoffa, the chair of the suburban Third Congressional District DFL chair, as his associate chair.

Martin is well liked by Democrats and respected by Republicans.

Republican Party consultant Ben Golnik on Monday called Martin both "reasonable" and "formidable."