 He has held this post since 2011—making him the longest-serving chairman in the 75-year history of the DFL.When Martin was elected DFL Party Chair in 2011 he Inherited a state party deeply in debt  following significant election losses including losing the majority in the State Senate for the first time in 40 years, the majority in the House of Representatives, and one of the longest held Democratic seats in Congress in MN-08 with the defeat of Congressman Jim Oberstar.Martin was able to quickly raise significant resources to rebuild the party and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy on behalf of its stakeholders – activists and party leaders, candidates and elected officials, and progressive organizations and community partners.