DNC chair predicts wins in key governor races as Trump agenda faces first test

By Fox News · Fox News

EXCLUSIVE: PHILADELPHIA, PA – Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Ken Martin is confident his party's investment in 2025's most consequential elections will pay off. "I do expect that we'll win those elections in New Jersey and Virginia," Martin said in an exclusive national interview with Fox News Digital, pointing to the only two states holding gubernatorial contests this year. "We feel pretty bullish about our chances." Democrats are looking to rebound from last year's setbacks – when the party lost control of the White House and Senate and failed to win back the House majority – with strong showings in next week's races. The New Jersey and Virginia contests are viewed as early tests of President Donald Trump 's agenda and as a barometer for next year's midterm elections, when Democrats hope to win back control of Congress. FIVE KEY RACES TO WATCH IN NEXT WEEK'S ELECTIONS The DNC has dished out over $7 million – a party record – for get-out-the-vote and organizing efforts this summer and autumn in New Jersey, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, where Democrats are fighting to retain three state supreme court seats. "I've always taken the position that every election matters, whether it's an on year off year, whether it's a local election, a federal election, every inch of ground that we gain here adds up," Martin emphasized. Martin said that since Trump returned to the White House in January, "there's been 45 elections on the ballot. Democrats have overperformed in all of them to the tune of about 16 percentage points on average." While confident, he added that "we're not taking anything for granted." DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN NOMINEES IN CRUCIAL GOVERNOR'S RACE TOUT SURGE IN EARLY VOTING NUMBERS Asked what a ballot box setback would mean for Democrats, Martin said his focus is on "turning out every single vote we can over these next several days left to make sure we do win." He reiterated, "I do expect that we'll win those elections in New Jersey and Virginia. We…