Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin addresses party members at the DNC's summer meeting on Aug. 25, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Paul Steinhauser - Fox News )
"We cannot be the only party that plays by the rules anymore," he urged.
And DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, in a Fox News Digital interview on the sidelines of the meeting, urged that Democrats "have to engage in a level of fight, not power for power's sake, but we have to fight hard because we understand what's at stake for working people and working families."
DNC CHAIR DEMANDS DEMOCRATS ‘STOP BRINGING A PENCIL TO A KNIFE FIGHT'
And echoing Martin, he said, "We've been playing checkers. They're playing Grand Theft Auto," as he referred to the long-running and popular action-adventure video game series that revolves around shooting, driving, and stealing cars.
Amid talk that the party remains divided over a slew of policy and political issues, leaders preached unity.
"We do not have the luxury to fight amongst ourselves while that thing sits in the White House," 2024 Democratic Party vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz emphasized, as he referred to Trump.
And Martin highlighted that "in this big tent party of ours, we are unified towards one single goal: to stop Donald Trump and put this country back on track."
At several smaller panel discussions during the confab, a leader from the donor portal for Democrats known as ActBlue shared what was described as a fight song to energize party members.
The song and the lyrics, which were reported by Semafor, were mocked by conservatives on social media.
While unity was a top theme in Minneapolis, divisions did flare during the summer meeting.
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin speaks with DNC members, at the party's summer meeting, on August 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Fox News Digital/Paul Steinhauser)
"This is now 40 key elections this year that we've won or overperformed in," Martin touted. "I want you to think about that for a second. Democrats, there's wind at our back. We have overperformed in every single election that's been on the ballot since Donald Trump was inaugurated."
After a rough stretch after winning election as DNC chair in February, Martin appears to have steadied himself this summer, and there was plenty of praise for the new chair during the meeting, which on Wednesday was adjourned early after the deadly church shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis just a few miles from the DNC meeting.
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But Republicans say they're also thrilled with Martin's tenure so far.
"Under Ken Martin’s leadership, Democrats have sunk to their lowest approval rating in 35 years, the DNC is still paying off millions in debt from Kamala Harris’ failed campaign," RNC communications director Zach Parkinson told Fox News. "As Republicans, we think he is doing a fantastic job, and we fully endorse him to stay on as DNC Chair."
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dncs-summer-showdown-infighting-exposes-cracks-democrats-unity-narrative-against-gop-agenda