The national Democratic Party chair visits UMKC, prompts youth to ‘take the torch’ and lead

  Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin spoke with UMKC students on Feb. 6 at Scofield Hall, urging them to “get involved” in the upcoming midterm election.

  The roundtable event was part of the seven-figure “When We Count” voter registration effort, launched on Jan. 13. Their strategy currently involves prioritizing localized outreach early to expand its base and bolster party support.

  “[Young people] don’t see themselves in politics because they don’t see a lot of young people,” Martin said. “But at the end of the day, don’t just settle, you know? If you don’t like candidates, then help change them.”

  Imane Bouhamidi, a senior in political science and psychology, said their events are an opportunity to network, meet like-minded people, and be more involved in politics.

  “It’s a lot easier to meet people in this kind of capacity,” Bouhamidi said. “A lot of times people will be interested in attending protests or supporting different causes, but they won’t do it because they don’t want to go alone.” 

  Martin also promoted the DNC candidate training programs to students.

  Eve Szylleyko, a UMKC freshman studying political science and history, was offered an opportunity at LeadMO, a flagship program designed to give youth the tools necessary for political or advocacy careers.

  “I’m an activist. I’ve always wanted to be a politician,” Szylleyko said. “I’m just so excited, jumping up and down, just thinking about possibly being involved in this and actually making a difference.”

  Seeing a positive turnout, she also expressed relief knowing that others feel a similar drive to pursue “great change.”

  Martin added that the current challenge for the Democratic Party is understanding what the vision will look like in the next generation. He said that gaining party trust also means delivering on follow-through, and that how they campaign is connected to how the party governs.

  “We haven’t been delivering on these promises,” Martin said.  “We got to fight for policies underneath there…all those pieces that are going to give people some sense that we have a plan. But it’s critical for us not to just say we have a plan, but to then build on it.”

  He said potential policies would address affordable housing and access to healthcare, especially for working-class people. This includes decreasing the child tax credit, paid family and medical leave, and housing policies that guarantee affordable pricing.

  Martin said that conversations with voters first are key to moving forward.

  “I love meeting directly with students,” Martin said. “It gives me so much hope for our country. And I urge every student to keep speaking out about the impact these changes have on your lives.”

  Primary elections will be held on Aug. 4, and general elections on Nov. 3.

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