DNC to hold first in-person candidate forum in Detroit

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) will host its in-person forum for its officer elections in Detroit next week.

The Thursday forum, which will focus on the Midwest, will include candidates for chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, national finance chair, and vice chair for civic engagement and voter engagement. 

Politico will co-host the event.

On Saturday, the committee will host a virtual candidate forum focused on the southern region.

The forums come as the race for party chair continues to heat up.

Earlier this week, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said he received endorsements from 60 current and former mayors. Meanwhile, former vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) backed his state party chair Ken Martin for the position. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler nabbed the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) earlier this month.

Other candidates running for chair who qualified for the Jan. 11 forum include New York state Sen. James Skoufis, author and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, former Department of Homeland Security official Nate Snyder, Jason Paul and Quintessa Hathaway. 

The party’s committee leadership elections are set for Feb. 1.