The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has a new leader: Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party for more than a decade. Martin, 51 and a resident of Eagan, was elected DNR chair on the first ballot of voting Saturday, signaling "overwhelming support from DNC members," a news release says.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is throwing his support behind a longtime behind-the-scenes political operative and the architect of the state’s same-sex marriage law to be the state’s next DFL Party Chair.

Martin was elected Saturday morning in a vote by 448 members of the Democratic National Committee. His move to the national stage now sets up a contest for the role of Minnesota DFL chair.