Rufus Gifford, a former deputy campaign manager for President Joe Biden and a longtime Democratic fundraiser, has publicly declared that Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin cannot be saved as the party heads into the 2026 midterm elections. In a Substack article published Monday, Gifford argued that the DNC is spiraling toward irrelevance under Martin’s leadership, pointing to the committee’s inability to raise money effectively and communicate its message to voters.
Gifford, who served as DNC finance director during the Obama administration, wrote that Martin has failed to build the relationships and trust necessary to secure major funding for critical party projects. He contrasted Martin’s approach with that of previous DNC leaders, noting that his own successes in fundraising were built on decades of accumulated relationships. Gifford stated that requests for financial support in the coming months would likely be met with rejections, a failure he said has been evident for over a year.
Although Gifford described Martin as a good man with good intentions, he emphasized that the chairman has not risen to the occasion. He cited the inability to hear from Martin during the 2024 campaign as evidence of a disconnect. Gifford also noted that leaks from inside the DNC, widely reported in media outlets, signal that staff have lost faith in the chairman’s leadership. He called on Democrats to acknowledge the problem and fix it immediately by uniting and respecting diverse voices within the party.
The criticism comes amid mounting financial troubles for the DNC. Federal Election Commission records show that the committee ended June with $16.3 million in cash on hand but $18.5 million in debt. In contrast, the Republican National Committee reported $128.5 million in cash and no debt, highlighting a significant disparity. Additionally, The New York Times reported on Sunday that Martin faces a formal human resources complaint after allegedly throwing his phone at a junior aide’s desk earlier this month. The incident has added to perceptions of internal dysfunction.
A DNC official responded to Fox News Digital by pointing to a Substack article Martin wrote last week, in which he asserted that the DNC has raised more money than any Democratic committee without the White House in the party’s history. Martin wrote, «If the question is whether the Democratic Party will be ready to win — everywhere, at every level, in this election and for the decade ahead — the answer is a resounding yes.» However, the financial data and the HR complaint have undercut that optimistic message.
Gifford’s critique follows a pattern of growing unease among Democratic operatives and media figures. Earlier reports indicated that state parties were defying the DNC’s primary calendar, and CNN reported that «nobody is scared» of Martin. MSNBC host Joe Scarborough recently went on a scathing on-air critique of Martin and the Democratic Party, calling them «horrible» and «crazy.» The combined pressure suggests that Martin’s position is increasingly precarious as the party grapples with its identity and strategy ahead of the midterms.
The stakes are high. The DNC’s ability to fundraise effectively will be crucial for supporting candidates in competitive House and Senate races, as well as state-level contests. Martin’s leadership style and financial management are under intense scrutiny, and the leaking of internal frustrations suggests that even DNC staff are losing confidence. Gifford’s call for immediate action reflects a broader sense of urgency among Democrats who fear that continued infighting and financial weakness could lead to significant losses in November.
As of now, Martin has not publicly addressed the HR complaint or the specific allegations raised by Gifford. The DNC has not announced any change in leadership, but the growing chorus of criticism may force a reassessment. For now, the party appears divided between those who believe Martin can turn things around and those who, like Gifford, see no path forward for the current chairman.
