This week, DNC Chair Ken Martin traveled to Cleveland, Ohio to highlight the historic investments the DNC is making in Ohio and states across the country to build resilient Democratic infrastructure and turbocharge grassroots organizing ahead of 2026 and beyond. During his trip, Chair Martin emphasized his “organize everywhere, win anywhere” strategy that gets the DNC out of DC and into communities across every state. 

Take a look at some of the coverage below: 

Ideastream Public Media: DNC chairman says ‘significant resources’ are coming to Ohio

[Josh Boose, 6/18/25]

“The chair of the Democratic National Committee said the party is investing more in Ohio to win races up and down the ballot.

“Speaking at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Ken Martin, who took over as DNC chair in February, said Democrats must organize in every corner of the state and prioritize local, state, and federal elections alike.

“‘Ohio is a critical piece of this,’ Martin said. ‘It’s a huge swing state in ’26. And the DNC under my leadership will be investing significant resources in this state.’ …

“According to Martin, the DNC is casting a wider net rather than focusing on a few battleground states and key congressional seats.

“He said every school board race is something worth watching and getting involved in.

“‘Our own indifference means that now some of the biggest school districts in the country are controlled by conservative majorities and they’re banning books, they’re whitewashing history, they’re attacking our children,’ Martin said. ‘That’s as much on them as it is on us because we ignore them.’”

Cleveland.com: DNC Chair Martin: Ohio ‘critical’ to Democrats’ 2026 strategy

[Mary Frances McGowan, 6/18/25]

“Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told the City Club of Cleveland that his party needs to move its center of gravity out of D.C. and into the states if it wants to win again. … 

“‘When you organize everywhere, you can win anywhere,’ Martin said Wednesday. ‘We can’t just be a party focused on seven battleground states and a few congressional seats.’ … 

“[Martin] said that Ohio will be ‘critical’ to Democratic strategy in 2026, with an open governor’s race, Senate race, and vulnerable Democratic House members Emelia Sykes, Greg Landsman and Marcy Kaptur on the ballot. 

“‘Ohio is not an afterthought for me,’ Martin said, noting he has campaigned in multiple Ohio cities, including Cleveland, Toledo, Independence, Lorain and Sandusky. ‘We know that this is a competitive state.’ 

“The DNC chair said Ohio will receive substantial resources as part of what he called record investments in state party organizations, moving the spotlight away from Washington consultants toward grassroots organizing in states like Ohio. The importance of state-level political infrastructure hits close to home for Martin, who ran the Minnesota state party from 2011 to 2025 and saw major Democratic gains during his tenure. … 

“The DNC chair emphasized the need for Democrats to reconnect with working-class voters, many of whom have shifted away from the party in Ohio and across the industrial Midwest. …

“‘We have to, as a Democratic Party, fight for everyone, no matter where they live.’”