New York State Senator James Skoufis announced his candidacy for chairman of the Democratic National Committee on Saturday on X.
Skoufis, who presents himself as an outsider, an outsider and part of a new generation, said he plans to highlight his positive record in his district supporting President-elect Donald Trump.
Arguing for a new scenario, Skoufis said: “The voters have spoken, and we must listen, not lecture. We must become strong fighters again.”
“I may be an underdog, but I know how to win,” he continued. “I’m going to throw out the DNC’s outdated, Beltway-centric playbook so we rebuild, stop ceding ground to Republicans, and start winning again – everywhere. Not just the party, but the country depends on it. We can win this fight together.”
In this October 28, 2021, file photo, New York State Senator James Skoufis attends an event in New York.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Media Assets, Inc., FILE
Skoufis, who has served in the New York Legislature since 2013, joins Martin O’Malley, the former governor of Maryland who has served as commissioner of the Social Security Administration since December 2023, and Ken Martin, vice chairman of the DNC. who also leads the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Jaime Harrison, the current president, is not seeking a second term.
The election of a new DNC chair will take place at the party’s winter meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 1, 2025. Harrison announced earlier this week that there would be four forums for candidates to make their case to members of the DNC, which will also select a vice president, treasurer, secretary and national finance chairman, after the party lost the presidency and failed to secure a majority in either Senate nor in the House during 2024 elections.
“As my term as president comes to an end and we prepare to begin the crucial work of holding the Trump administration and the Republican Party accountable for their extremism and false promises, we begin to define the process for upcoming DNC leadership elections in New Mexico Year,” Harrison said in a statement. “The DNC is committed to transparent, fair and impartial elections for the next generation of leaders to guide the party forward.”
Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison speaks at a rally for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in Reno, Nevada, October 31, 2024.
Fred Greaves/Reuters
The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet Dec. 12 to determine procedural rules for the contest, including what will be needed to get on the ballot. In 2021, candidates needed the signatures of 40 DNC members, which is expected to be the case for the 2025 race.
The 448 DNC members voting at the winter meeting include 200 state-elected members from 57 states, territories and overseas Democrats; members representing 16 affiliated groups; and 73 at-large members elected by the DNC, ABC News previously reported.
