The Democratic National Committee has had a no good, very bad year. That, of course, does not bode well for the 2028 presidential election cycle, and powerful Democrat donors have noticed.
According to Politico, the DNC’s embarrassing missteps under Chair Ken Martin have donors griping and looking for alternatives.
One donor, for instance, described the DNC as “sort of floundering right now.”
And that might have been the most generous assessment Politico received from more than half a dozen donors, donor advisors, and bundlers — those who collect many individual donations — nearly all of whom spoke anonymously.
“Nobody wants to give [Martin] or DNC money at this point, but worry is focused on the day after the midterms, because the DNC is more of a presidential player,” a Democratic bundler said. “It’s beyond embarrassing and it’s not going to get better until he is gone.”
Meanwhile, one donor advisor warned that the DNC’s failures under Martin mean that contributions will dry up after the 2026 midterms. That could change, however, if the DNC replaces Martin.
“We need an overhaul, and I think that’s what my folks will be in support of. And if that happens, there will be end-of-year giving, December will be a boom,” the donor adviser said. “But if it’s Ken, and it’s just the same — same old nonsense — I can’t make the case.”
Hellbound and Down 