♪♪ >> Cathy: KEN MARTIN WAS THE LONGEST SERVING D.F.L.

PARTY CHAIR IN STATE HISTORY.

WHEN HE LEFT EARLIER THIS YEAR TO TAKE OVER THE REINS AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, IT WAS THE FIRST VACANCY AT THE TOP OF THE MINNESOTA PARTY IN ALMOST 15 YEARS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH THE D.F.L.

PARTY MET AND CHOSE RICHARD CARLBOM TO LEAD THEM.

CARLBOM IS THE FORMER MAYOR OF ST. JOSEPH, MINNESOTA, AND HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN STATE PARTY POLITICS FOR DECADES.

HE MOST RECENTLY WORKED AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO GOVERNOR WALZ.

WELCOME BACK TO THE BIG SHOW, IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WERE TALKING WITH PROFESSOR LARRY JACOBS AS YOU HEARD PROBABLY EARLIER IN THE SHOW JUST THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON AND HE KIND OF SAID, WELL, THERE'S NOT A REALLY REAT RESPONSE.

IT LOOKS LIKE NATIONALLY THE PARTY'S ADRIFT, HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE STATE PARTY?

>> I THINK THAT FIRST OF ALL NATIONALLY IT TOOK US A LITTLE BIT TO GET OVER THE SHOCK OF THE 2024 RESULTS.

BUT I WAS IN ST. PAUL LAST WEEKEND WHEN 25,000 PEOPLE WERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND THEN I DROVE OUT TO WILLMAR AND 750 PEOPLE FILLED AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA AND EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO IN THIS MOMENT TO BE EMPOWERED.

AND SO AS THE NEW STATE PARTY CHAIR, WHAT I AND OTHER DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS THAT WE NEED TO DO WHAT PAUL WELLSTONE TAUGHT US, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW WITH THE ENERGY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING UP TO GIVE THEM THEIR MARCHING ORDERS, TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO.

THEY WANT A CALL TO ACTION.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING AS ONALTERNATIVE?

IS >> ABSOLUTELY, WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, DEMOCRATS SHOULD, WHEN WE START TO ORGANIZE WE NEED TO LISTEN TO VOTERS, A LOT OF TIMES I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE A REPUTATION FOR TELLING VOTERS WHAT TO THINK AND INSTEAD WE NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF, LOT OF CHAOS AND CONFUSION FROM WASHINGTON.

I THINK IT'S A PARTY WHEN WE LISTEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAR VOTERS TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE ECONOMY, HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, THOSE CORE ISSUES.

AND I THINK AS A PARTY WE CAN ENGAGE THEM AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, TALK TO THEM ABOUT UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE LARGEST CHILD TAX CREDIT IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS HAVE DELIVERED IN SPADES ON THE CORE ISSUES FACING FAMILIES, AND I THINK WE CAN REMIND THEM OF THAT AND BE THE CALM PRESENCE IN THIS CHAOS AND CONFUSION THAT'S COMING FROM WASHINGTON TO HELP SORT THROUGH THE MESS, AND ULTIMATELY HELP THEM REBUILD SO THAT WE CAN WIN IN 2026.

>> Eric: WHAT YOU ALL MENTIONED THERE REQUIRES A LOT OF SPENDING AND I WONDER IF MINNESOTANS BELIEVE THEY'RE GETTING A BANG FOR THEIR BUCK WITH ALL THE SPENDING THAT THE DEMOCRATS WHEN THEY WERE IN THE MAJORITY THE LAST TWO YEARS PROVIDED FOR EVERYBODY.

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK WHEN PARENTS LOOK AT THE CHILD TAX CREDIT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT'S REAL MONEY IN THEIR POCKET TO HELP PAY FOR GROCERIES OR THE MORTGAGE OR RENT.

WHEN THEY SEE THEIR KIDS GET TO EAT UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS THAT MEANS THEY SAVE ABOUT $1,400 A CHILD EVERY YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO OT HAVING TO PROVIDE LUNCH AND BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL.

SO I ACTUALLY DO THINK FAMILIES UNDERSTAND THAT IN MINNESOTA WE INVEST IN THEM AND WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF WORKING FAMILIES.

>> Eric: I ONLY BRING THIS UP IN A LITTLE BIT IN JEST, BUT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION SINCE THE ELECTION, LOT OF SWEARING BY DEMOCRATS.

SENATOR SMITH, GOVERNOR WALZ, KEN MARTIN, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ERIN MURPHY.

IS THIS WHAT, WE'RE TOUGH SO WE CAN SWEAR?

HAVE YOU NOTICED THIS?

MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T.

>> I THINK WHAT THEY WERE DOING IS REFLECTING THE SENSE OF THE VOTERS.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE UNILATERAL AND I THINK PROVEN IN COURT, ILLEGAL ACTION COMING OUT OF THE TRUMP AND MUSK ADMINISTRATION.

AND I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE RESPONDING TO THAT WITH I THINK THE DUE ALARM THAT MANY AMERICANS FEEL.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON WHO MIGHT BE THE GOVERNOR CANDIDATE, WHO MIGHT BE THE SENATE CANDIDATE?

WILL YOU BE HANDS-ON ON IN THAT WAY OR LET HE PROCESS WORK ITS WILL?

>> MY JOB AS PARTY CHAIR IS TO ENSURE THERE'S A FAIR PROCESS THROUGH THE ENDORSING CONVENTIONS AND ENSURE THAT DEMOCRATS AS A PARTY CAN GATHER, CAN TALK AND DISCUSS WHO SHOULD BE OUR CANDIDATE AND ULTIMATELY AT OUR STATE CONVENTION ENDORSE A CANDIDATE.

>> Eric: MARCH PRIMARY?

>> NO, I THINK OUR PRIMARY IS RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

>> Cathy: HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING AT ALL TO SHARE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

>> I HAVE NOT REACHED OUT TO THE REPUBLICAN CHAIR, I'VE BEEN ON THE JOB 13 DAYS.

>> Cathy: THAT'S RUE, YOU'VE NEW ON THE JOB, BUT DO YOU PLAN TO DO THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE DIALOGUE THAT IS RESPECTFUL AND ENGAGING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

>> Cathy: ERIC AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF-AIR, YOU HEAR A LOT FROM LAWMAKERS HEARING WE'RE AT THE DOORS, PROBABLY DURING BREAK, HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS, RIGHT, AND I'M WONDERING, DOORKNOCKING, THE TRADITIONAL WAYS OF REACHING VOTERS SEEM QUAINTLY OLD FASHIONED, YOU KNOW, WHO'S GONNA ANSWER THE DOOR OR WHO'S GOING TO ICK UP THEIR PHONE?

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO REACH OUT TO VOTERS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION FIRST AND FOREMOST WE CAN'T WAIT 'TIL 2026, WE CAN'T WAIT 'TIL THE ELECTION YEARS.

WE POSTED JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, WE'RE HIRING RIGHT NOW AND PUT THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN 2025 SO WE CAN BUILD ON AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS ULTIMATELY O DELIVER ICTORIES IN 2026 AND WE HAVE TO UP OUR DIGITAL GAME AS WELL.

>> Eric: HOPE YOU COME BACK