ICYMI: DNC Chair Ken Martin Rallies Voters Behind Proposition 50 in California and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices Arrow

Last week, DNC Chair Ken Martin rallied Democrats in California and Pennsylvania, mobilizing voters behind California's Proposition 50 and driving home the importance of Pennsylvania's high-stakes Supreme Court retention races.

In California, Chair Martin attended a Latino phonebank and campaigned alongside local and federal elected officials. Throughout the day, he reminded voters to vote "Yes" on Proposition 50 to fight back against Donald Trump's attempt to rig the congressional map.

Later in the week, Chair Martin joined Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale and Reproductive Freedom for All President & CEO Mini Timmaraju on a press call laying out the stakes of Pennsylvania's Supreme Court races as right-wing billionaires try to buy the court.

Take a look at some of the coverage below:

On the Airwaves:

Spectrum News: "Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin, agrees with Patty that phone banking is crucial. He made an appearance, along with other local leaders in Boyle Heights, as part of a statewide push to get out the vote. 'Hi Christina, it's Ken calling. I just wanted to leave you a message to remind you to vote in the upcoming election, to vote yes on Proposition 50.' Martin says the redistricting tug of war began when Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced his state would be redistricting in favor of Republicans. 'In every state they do this in, we're going to respond in kind with the Democratic state. This is about our democracy right now, right? And again, this is about one party trying to disenfranchise voters, trying to take away the right to vote, and doing everything they can, - midstream - to rig an election because they're about to lose.'"

Spectrum News: "The chairman of the Democratic Party, Ken Martin, tells Spectrum News he'll be coming to Los Angeles to campaign for the ballot measure Thursday. … 'What we're seeing from the Republican Party is an unconstitutional power grab, right, in a moment where they know they're headed towards certain loss in 2026, they're trying to change the rules midstream and rig the maps.' … 'I'm going to be campaigning on the ground there, and I'll be attending a bilingual phone bank to actually reach out to Latino voters throughout the state to educate voters about what this amendment is, what this proposition is, and what this will mean for again, California, and frankly, for the country. … 'I feel very optimistic based on what we are hearing already, activity on the ground, people understand what's happening… I've always said in campaigns and elections, you run like you're 20 points behind, even if you're 20 points ahead, right? So these next two weeks, we're going to do everything we can to win."

KY-AM Radio: "DNC Chair Ken Martin says his party is backing their retention to counteract Republican efforts to unseat them. 'Republicans have destroyed the notion of a non-partisan race. Now we have Trump's billionaire buddies trying to buy our courts.'"

In Print:

Los Angeles Times: Unions opposing Trump agenda pouring money into Proposition 50 campaign

[Seema Mehta, 10/24/25]

"Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin hosted a bilingual phone bank in Los Angeles on Thursday.

"'Make no mistake about what they're trying to do and why it's so important that we fight back,' Martin said. 'We're not going to be the only party with one hand tied behind our back. If they want a showdown, we're going to give them a showdown and in just a little under two weeks it starts right here with Prop. 50 in California.'"

Spectrum News: Exclusive: DNC chair heads to California to stump for redistrict plan, says Democrats will 'fight fire with fire'

[Cassie Semyon 10/22/25]

"Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin will head to California on Thursday to stump for Proposition 50, which would temporarily redraw the state's congressional districts to elect more Democrats, Spectrum News has exclusively learned. …

"'It's shameful what's happening, and Democrats and, frankly, independents and others are pissed off, and they're rolling up their sleeves, and they're saying we're no longer going to bring a pencil to a knife fight at this point. We're going to fight fire with fire.'

"During his time in California, Martin will participate in a bilingual phone bank in Los Angeles to reach voters ahead of Election Day, which is less than two weeks away. 'We're trying to make sure people know how to vote, where to vote, what's at stake and what this will mean for the country," he said. …

"While polls show California voters appear to be leaning in favor of Prop 50, turnout on Election Day will be the determining factor. Asked what happens if the ballot measure fails, Martin said Democrats would reevaluate, but he added that he feels confident about its chances of passage.

"'I've always said in campaigns and elections, you run like you're 20 points behind, even if you're 20 points ahead,' Martin said. 'I don't believe anything. I drown out the polls. I drown out all the noise. And what I do is stay focused on the work ahead of us. And so these next two weeks, we're going to do everything we can to win, and we'll worry about the consequences if we lose after the fact.'

"'But we're going to do everything we can right now to make sure we don't lose, because the stakes are so high.'"

Spectrum News: DNC Chair Ken Martin talks California redistricting, Mamdani and governor races with Spectrum News

[Cassie Seymon 10/22/25]

"Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin sat down with Spectrum News for a wide-ranging interview Tuesday evening ahead of Election Day to talk about next month's congressional redistricting special election in California, the New York City mayor's race and other consequential campaigns across the country. …

"'It's critical for our democracy,' said Martin. 'What we're seeing from the Republican Party is an unconstitutional power grab. In a moment where they know they're headed towards certain loss in 2026, they're trying to change the rules midstream and rig the maps.'

"'The Republicans wanted a showdown in Texas. We've given them a showdown.'

"Martin is heading to Los Angeles on Thursday to stump for Prop 50 on the ground, with plans to attend a bilingual phone bank to try to drum up votes. While Prop 50 is the first attempt by Democrats to redistrict mid-decade, Martin promises it won't be the last if Republicans continue down this path.

"'If they do this in Ohio or Indiana or Missouri or Florida or some of the other states that they're trying to do in it, we'll find other Democratic states to counter as well,' promised Martin."

City & State PA: DNC, PDP chairs: PA Supreme Court retention races have national implications

[Justin Sweitzer, 10/24/25]

"In a call with reporters 11 days ahead of the election, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin stressed that the retention races - in which voters will be asked whether to retain each justice for an additional 10-year term on the bench - will have sweeping national ramifications, especially if the three justices fail to secure new terms. …

"DePasquale told reporters that if the three justices fail to win their retention elections, the court, which hears cases related to election law and voting rights, could be thrown 'into chaos' if asked to hear election-related cases in the 2026 election cycle.

"'This court has specifically stood up to make sure that every single vote gets counted,' DePasquale said. He added that the court has made major rulings related to the constitutionality of congressional maps, including in 2018, when it determined that the state's existing map was gerrymandered in violation of the state constitution.

"Martin made a similar point about the court and its potential to rule on future election-related cases.

"'The Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention races are among the most important elections in the nation this year,' he said. 'What happens on Nov. 4 can make all the difference in the 2028 presidential election.'

"Martin said the DNC has made 'significant six-figure investments' to support the justices' retention campaigns. …

"Mini Timmaraju, the president and CEO of the reproductive rights group Reproductive Freedom for All, added on Friday that the retention elections could have a lasting impact on access to abortion and reproductive care in the state.

"'A single loss in this election could completely shift the balance of the court and put reproductive freedom in jeopardy from further attacks from state Republicans and Donald Trump,' Timmaraju said. 'So this is why it matters to us. This election will not just have immediate impact; it's going to determine the future of access in Pennsylvania.'"

Washington Examiner: Democrats put abortion, election integrity at forefront in Pennsylvania Supreme Court election to counter 'MAGA donors'

[Molly Parks, 10/24/25]

"Pennsylvania's state Democratic National Committee Chairman Eugene DePasquale zeroed in on how the upcoming judicial election could be critical in possible election rulings during the 2026 cycle and have implications for the national redistricting saga. DePasquale made the comments in a press call on Friday, alongside President of Reproductive Freedom for All Mini Timmaraju and national DNC Chairman Ken Martin.

"'This court has specifically stood up to making sure that every single vote gets counted. If they were to not be retained, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court would not have a quorum for the 2026 election, for example. That would throw, potentially, our elections, from a national perspective, into chaos,' DePasquale said. …

"'Pennsylvania has been a tough state for abortion access for quite some time. Nothing can be taken for granted,' Timmaraju said. 'Republicans in the legislature are determined to move an abortion ban, and there's actual litigation right now that could level up to the state Supreme Court. So 100%, the risk level is extremely high. That is why we jumped into this race.'

"Martin brought the issue of the state's Supreme Court's possible involvement in certifying the 2028 presidential election results to the table. He alluded to its actions in ensuring the count of every late ballot in the 2020 election and upholding the election results to confirm former President Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump.

"'The Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention races are among the most important elections in the nation this year. What happens on Nov. 4 can make all the difference in the 2028 presidential election, just how it was five years ago,' Martin said.

"Martin likened the conservative influence on the Pennsylvania judicial election to the influence of Tesla CEO Elon Musk pouring money behind conservative Judge Brad Schimel in Wisconsin, who lost his election in April. Studies showed Musk's influence actually backfired during the election.

"'Now we have Trump's billionaire buddies trying to buy our courts. They've tried and failed in Wisconsin earlier this year, and now they have their eyes set on Pennsylvania. As I've said in Pennsylvania, I've been there many times campaigning, 'Not on our watch,'" Martin said."

Courthouse News Service: Millions spent to unseat liberal majority on Pennsylvania Supreme Court

[Jackson Healy, 10/28/25]

"Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin echoed DePasquale's sentiment, telling reporters that Pennsylvania is 'ready to reject Jeff Yass and Trump's handpicked candidates.' He compared the spending to Elon Musk's $20 million campaign to support conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel, who ultimately lost to liberal candidate Susan Crawford earlier this year."