After Bruising Election, Democrats Meet To Elect Leader

Democrats were set to gather in Hinckley Saturday to vote for the party's chair. Current chairman Ken Martin is seeking a fourth, two-year term. He's being challenged by former party associate chairwoman Donna Cassutt.

Martin's contested re-election bid comes as Democrats in Minnesota and elsewhere ponder their connections to rural areas. Democrats lost many rural legislative seats as Republicans swept back to power in the Minnesota Senate.

Cassutt says it's time for a new leader who can rebuild trust with voters. Martin says he's done the right things as party chair but Democrats were simply swamped by Donald Trump's candidacy.