NEW YORK – New York State Senator James Skoufis, a Democrat, has officially entered the race for chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), aiming to revitalize the party following significant setbacks in this month’s elections.
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“I’ve had extensive conversations with DNC members and others within the Democratic Party, and there’s a strong desire for new leadership,” said Skoufis, 37, in an interview with The Hill. “I bring a blend of proven electoral success over the past 12 years and a fresh, youthful perspective.”
Skoufis has been serving in the New York State Senate since 2023. Before that, he spent a decade in the State Assembly, where he was elected at 25, making him the youngest member of the chamber at the time.
This marks Skoufis’s first venture into national politics. He emphasized that his outsider status sets him apart from previous DNC leaders. “We’ve often had chairs from Washington’s inner circle or career political operatives. That’s not my background, and I think it’s an asset,” he said.
Skoufis joins a competitive field that includes former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Ken Martin, the Minnesota Democratic Party chair and DNC vice chair. Other potential candidates reportedly include U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, and strategist Chuck Rocha.
Skoufis’s candidacy follows a tough general election for Democrats, who suffered losses across multiple battlegrounds. President-elect Donald Trump won all seven swing states and even narrowed the Democratic margin in traditionally blue states like New York.
Trump’s performance in New York was notably stronger than in 2020, losing to Vice President Kamala Harris by just over 11 points, compared to a 23-point loss to President Joe Biden four years prior.
Despite this challenging environment, Skoufis secured reelection in the 42nd Senate district in the Hudson Valley, a region where Trump won by 12 points. “Compared to two years ago, I’ve made significant progress in traditionally Republican areas. While I didn’t win every red, rural district outright, I’ve cut margins dramatically—from 40-point losses down to 15 in some places,” Skoufis said.
A rabid Big Pharma vax supporter. Sponsored the bill in NYS to remove the children’s vaccination exemption, which passed in June of ‘2019 on a sneaky Friday afternoon vote, announced just before the end of the session the previous day, right before the Assembly’s summer recess. The lack of choice is unconstitutional and is currently being fought to be rescinded. According to Crain’s NY Business, Skoufis’s campaign was promoted through Big Pharma by their spending to solicit his vote by the NYC Transit Workers Union. They then had him spring this bill in additional to supporting the Transit Workers. A real bull headed creature who has unforgivingly endangered the lives of our youth.