DNC Chair Ken Martin traveled to Atlanta, GA, this past weekend to outline the DNC’s new voter registration program “When We Count” and to emphasize the DNC’s commitment to building Democratic power across the Peach State. Chair Martin also attended an MLK Day breakfast in Atlanta and spoke extensively about how Democrats can restore trust in communities where we lost ground in 2024.

Take a look at some of the coverage below: 

Atlanta Voice: Here’s what DNC Chair Martin says about Georgia Politics, voter turnout, and rebuilding trust

[Donnell Suggs, 1/16/26]

“It may be a midterm election year, but the stakes are high in the Peach State, according to Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin. … 

“The DNC Chair said people need to look even deeper into the political success of 2026, like in Mississippi, where three Legislative seats were turned blue. ‘Every inch of ground we gain adds up,’ he said. ‘We know if we carry that forward, we can put this [Georgia] seat in play. We have a good candidate in Shawn, and a district that’s ripe for the taking, and so I say you can’t ignore any race and you can’t ignore any part of this country.’”

“Martin said the DNC will make voter registration a priority this election cycle. Young voter turnout has fallen in recent elections. According to data from Your Voice Matters, only 23% of 18-29-year-olds registered to vote and cast ballots in the 2022 midterms. That was four years ago, and registration and turnout of the youngest age group (18-19) is even lower.

“‘Young voters are the largest voting bloc in the country, but they vote at such low numbers,’ Martin, a native Minnesotan and father of two sons, ages 23 and 21, said. ‘That is part of what our voter registration push is really focusing on, registering young voters, in particular young Black and brown voters.’ …

“He said with a bright smile, ‘When we organize everywhere, we can win anywhere.’” 

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: One year in, Georgia Republicans largely stick with Donald Trump

[Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam, 1/20/26]

“Over the weekend, it was Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, who was in the state for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations.

“Martin was also talking about Democrats’ current voter registration gap with Republicans across the country. To reverse the trend, Martin told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the party is launching ‘When We Count,’ the DNC’s largest-ever voter registration program. The seven-figure effort will include hiring young people to both register new voters and pitch them on the party’s candidates and top issues.

“Although Georgia doesn’t register voters by party, Martin said the South will be a crucial focus for Democrats because U.S. Census figures show the majority of voting power will eventually shift from Northeastern and Midwestern states to Southern states like Georgia.

“‘Wayne Gretzky said that you have to skate to where the puck will be, not where the puck is, and that’s what we have to do here, right in Georgia and in the South,’ he said.”

The Spelman Blueprint: Ken Martin Visits The AUC

[Olivia Bernard, 1/21/26]

“In early January, the DNC announced its When We Count campaign, marking its largest-ever voter registration effort, a seven-figure investment aimed at reaching young voter communities. This effort is paired with the launch of its When We Count Youth Fellowship, a paid, part-time fellowship that trains students to register new voters, working to close voter registration gaps in priority congressional districts.

“‘It’s really important for us to actually make sure we’re mobilizing new voters all over the country. We need to engage early and engage often,’ Martin told students.

“With midterm election season just months away, mobilizing college-aged and first time voters has emerged as a central priority for campaigns across the country. Though the Democratic Party is adequately positioned for the upcoming midterm elections, a great deal of work remains to secure crucial wins across the nation. 

“‘When you win elections you change lives,’ Martin said. …

“‘People have a good B.S. meter —they can smell through it— they want authenticity, they want people who are actually going to stand up and fight for what they believe in — not just tell people what they want to hear to get their vote,’ Martin said.

“Attendees were highly encouraged to apply to the When We Count Fellowship, with the inaugural cohort launching this spring.”