DNC Chair Jaime Harrison has advised the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee of plans for four candidate forums in the new year and set the date of the DNC Winter Meeting for January 30 – February 1, 2025. The election of DNC officers – including Chair, Vice Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary and National Finance Chair – is scheduled for February 1. 2025. The meeting will be held in National Harbor, Maryland. Two candidates’ forums have been held to date; we have provided links for you to view the forums.

According to Chair Harrison, the DNC will host a series of four forums – a combination of in-person and virtual, for candidates to make their case as why they should be elected the next DNC Chair and engage with DNC members. The forums will be inclusive of DNC members and grassroots, every day Democrats from all over the country, as the forums will be livestream both in-person and virtual forums. The forums will provide opportunities for engagement of grassroots Democrats throughout the United States, but will focus on the questions and concerns of the DNC members, elected representatives who will ultimately vote to elect the incoming officers.

Candidate Forums

1.11.2025 – 1st Candidates’ Forum | Held virtually
Co-Hosted by: DNC & C-SPAN | C-SPAN – To view, click here.
1.16.2025 – 2nd Candidates’ Forum | In-Person held in Detroit, MI
Co-Hosted by: DNC & Politico | YouTube – To view, click here.
1.23.2025 – 3rd Candidates’ Forum will be virtual | Scheduled in West
1.30.2025 – 4th Candidates’ Forum will be in-person | Scheduled in Washington DC

Announced Candidates – As of 1.09.2025

DNC Chair

• Martin O’Malley: Announced 11.18.2024; currently serves as commissioner of the Social Security Administration since December 2023; former Maryland governor
• Ken Martin: Announced 11.19.2024; currently a vice chairman of the DNC; currently chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party; currently President of the Association of State Democratic Committees
• Ben Wikler: 12.01.2024; currently chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin since 2019; former Senior Advisor at MoveOn
• Robert Houton:  Announced 12.03.2024; U.S. Senate candidate from Maryland; Founder, Coalition for Families, Teens, Students; President, Houton Strategies
• Jason Paul: Announced 12.05.2024; Massachusetts lawyer; political strategist; self-published a book titled “Trench Warfare Politics in the Tinder Era.”
• Nate Snyder: Announced 12.11.2024; former official in the Department of Homeland Security under President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama
• Marianne Williamson: Announced 12.26.2024; self-help author; onetime spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey; has staged two long-shot Democratic campaigns for president
•  Quintessa Hathaway: Announced 1.06.2025; currently a non-teaching adjunct professor at her alma mater, Tennessee State University; 2022 Democratic Nominee For Congress (AR-02) ; education consultant; politician; published author; educator; historian; entrepreneur; thought leader; scholar
• James Skoufis: WITHDREW – Currently a New York State Senator; has served in the New York legislature since 2013

Treasurer

• Matt Hughes: Non-profit CEO, Hillsborough Town Commissioner, former chair of the Orange County, North Carolina Democratic Party
• Virginia McGregor: DNC Treasurer, Board of McGregor Industries, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Board Chair

Secretary

• Marilyn Davis: Former New Jersey Department of Labor Deputy Commissioner, US Department of Labor African American Engagement Manager in the Obama administration, Senior Advisor to former New Jersey Governor and US Senator John Corzine’s campaigns
• Jason Rae: DNC Secretary, President & CEO for the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Partner in Nation Consulting Public Affairs

National Finance Chair

• Chris Korge: DNC Finance Chair, former DSCC and DCCC Trustee, former National Finance Chairman for Hillary Clinton for President; attorney, retailer and real estate developer
• Christopher Lowe: DNC Deputy National Finance Chair; National Finance Committee, Harris Victory Fund; Board Member and Investment Committee Chair, renewable energy company Cordelio Power; Chief Financial Officer, distributed generation company Dispatch Energy

Below is the DNC Officer Election Timeline:

• December 12, 2024: The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet to establish the Rules of Procedure for nominating the DNC Chair and other Officers – Vice Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary and National Financial Chair
• In January 2025: The DNC will host a series of four candidate forums – a combination of virtual and in-person
• January 30, 2025, through February 1, 2025: The DNC will host the DNC Winter Meeting for DNC Members
• February 1, 2025: The 448 DNC members will vote for the incoming DNC Officers

DNC Officer Election Process:

• Role of DNC Staff:

  • Host candidate forums
  • Brief interested candidates on the process
  • Facilitate communication with DNC Members
  • Conduct the member vote
  • Chair Harrison and all DNC staff will maintain complete neutrality throughout the process, including abstaining from endorsing or campaigning for any candidate.

• Role of the Rules and Bylaws Committee:

  • Recommend the Rules of Procedure that guide the nominations and election process, including ballot access requirements and the process by which candidates file, to full DNC membership
    • In 2021, candidates were required to submit a nominating statement alongside the signatures of 40 DNC members. According to Chair Harrison, it is the DNC intent t utilize this 40-signature threshold for candidate participation in the forums

• Role of DNC Members:

  • Approve Rules of Procedure for election and nomination process
  • Engage with candidates, including through participation in candidate forums
  • Offer their signature to support candidates’ access to participate in the forums and access to the ballot
  • Ultimately vote at the DNC Winter Meeting

• DNC Members:

  • There are 448 active DNC members including 20 state elected members from 57 states, territories and Democrats Abroad
  • Members representing 16 affiliate groups
  • 73 current at-large members elected by the DNC