STATEMENT: JAMES SKOUFIS ENDS RACE FOR DNC CHAIR, ENDORSES KEN MARTIN OF MINNESOTA

Skoufis, 37, an Outsider Who Increasingly Defined the Terms of the Race, Has Won a Deep-Red, Working-Class District by Double Digits Since First Run at 25; Message of Taking Power Outside the Beltway, Meeting Voters Where They Are and Kicking the Consultant Class to the Curb Resonated

Skoufis Enthusiastically Throws His Weight Behind Martin; Will Campaign Actively for Him for Duration of the Race, Cites His “Vision, Charisma, Guts and Winning Record.”

“Soon after November’s disastrous results, I did what I did when I was 25 and wanted to make an impact on my community – I took a breath and jumped into the race for DNC Chair. In doing so, I brought everything I know from my experience winning eight elections by large margins in deep red territory.

“While starting as a complete unknown outside of New York, I am proud of our aggressive campaign to deliver major change to the DNC and national party. Our message resonated with the large majority of DNC members who believe we can rebuild our party, rebuild trust with disaffected voters, refocus on working class priorities, and never cede even an inch of ground to Republicans. As an outsider, I didn’t enter this contest with any DNC relationships, but leave it having driven much of the debate and having left deep impressions with both supporters and many uncommitted DNC members. I’m humbled by and thankful for the party faithful who believed in our truth-telling campaign.

“It is with the only goal in sight that matters – winning elections – that I am throwing my full weight behind ensuring Ken Martin is the next Chair of the Democratic National Committee. I endorse Ken in the strongest possible terms and will use my time between now and February 1 to make sure he’s our next Chair. Today, I am releasing my supporters and urge them – and the many uncommitted DNC members who were drawn to my reformer message – to join me in supporting Ken.

“I am endorsing Ken because he’s a man of integrity and I have deep respect for his vision, charisma, guts, and undefeated record in statewide races. I know that he, like me, is laser-focused on winning, not spinning. He will re-center what is most important for our party: expanding the map and rebuilding our once-big Democratic tent by taking power outside of the DC Beltway and kicking the out-of-touch consultant class to the curb. Ken shares these imperatives, and I know that under his leadership, the next iteration of the party will shed our elitist reputation, deliver for the working class, and return us to electoral dominance. 

“The years ahead will be tough. We will be on the outside. Working- and middle-class families will be absolutely soaked while Donald Trump and his weird billionaire friends will profit like pigs at a trough. The Democratic Party must be laser-focused on demonstrating our commitment to working men and women and fighting like hell to win races up and down the ballot. I am here for that fight and look forward to that fight, in all 50 states and all of America’s 3,244 counties, alongside Ken.”