The Democratic National Committee (DNC) abruptly ended its summer meeting in Minneapolis on Wednesday, after news broke of a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, located a short distance from the gathering.
DNC Chair Ken Martin acknowledged the attack, which occurred outside the church during the school’s weekly Mass. He told members the tragedy had left about 20 victims, most of them children. Police and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey later confirmed in a press conference that 19 people had been shot.
“I’m extremely, extremely sorry that our meeting ended on such a tragic note,” Martin said. “But as we leave here with heavy hearts, let’s steel ourselves again in this work and why it’s so important. Everything we do, everything we do, is to make sure that things like this never happen again, especially to the little, little children. So let’s leave here today, steeled in this fight, knowing what we have to do.”
The final phase of the session began with a prayer led by Bishop Leah Daughtry, followed by a motion from Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) to adopt all committee reports in a single voice vote so the meeting could close swiftly. Members approved the motion, and the meeting was adjourned.
In his welcoming remarks just an hour earlier, the mayor urged Democrats to view cities as the proving ground for social and economic change. He highlighted the city’s elimination of single-family exclusive zoning and expansion of affordable housing as examples of how Democratic-led cities could demonstrate progress to other cities around the country.
Inside the executive board meeting, party leaders presented what they described as a strong financial position. Budget co-chairs reported the DNC had raised $70 million so far this year, which Martin called a record for a comparable point after a presidential election loss. They said the party carried no debt, maintained adequate cash on hand, and was investing earlier than in past cycles, including in state parties, technology, and the upcoming gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey.
Martin said grassroots contributions—small donations of $5, $10, and $20 at a time—made up roughly 85 percent of the total raised. He said that reliance on these recurring contributions created a healthier, more resilient organization than one dependent on major donors.
The committee chair also pointed to fresh signs of momentum, citing Democrat Catelin Drey’s victory in an Aug. 26 Iowa Senate special election. The win flipped a Republican-held seat, broke the GOP’s supermajority in the chamber, and marked what Martin called the 40th Democratic win or better-than-expected results since President Donald Trump took office in January.
“There’s wind at our back,” Martin told members, adding the party should be hopeful despite the 2024 presidential election loss. He said the party needed to stop with the navel-gazing and “actually get in this fight.”
Still, not all members were reassured. Shortly before the meeting was adjourned, Christine Pelosi, a committee member and daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, issued a sharp critique of how money is being spent.
“Last year, consultants lit a billion dollars on fire and pocketed another $750 million … that we can track,” she said. “I didn’t see enough paid field. I didn’t see enough Black media. I didn’t see enough rural radio. I didn’t see enough ethnic media. And we are determined. … I’ve told the governor, I’ve told my beloved mother, Nancy Pelosi, I’ve told anyone within the sound of my voice that we’re not doing that again.”
Christine Pelosi said large donors remained hesitant because they wanted to see their money go directly to communities, not national contracts.
“Every call is a persuasion call,” she said.
“If you don’t have [a] paid field, we will lose in California, not to mention New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, et cetera. So please, please, please, let’s all remember, the reason why people are still sitting on some of their money is because they want to see it in the field, they want to see it where they live … and if we are paying media consultants and we are not paying phone bankers and door walkers, we will lose. So let’s invest in the field and let’s win.”
Martin stated in response: “You don’t have to convince me. I’m an organizer.”
Throughout the meeting, Martin pointed to Democratic wins or better-than-expected results in 40 special elections this year as evidence of momentum and told members the party’s main task is “rebuilding trust” with voters who have lost faith.
The third and final day capped a meeting that had already showcased divisions and strategy debates.
On opening day, Texas Democrats took center stage as they described their quorum-breaking battle against Republican redistricting maps, which DNC leaders framed as part of a broader fight over voting rights. The following day, the Resolutions Committee debated and advanced dozens of measures, including paired resolutions against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, while shelving a cease-fire and arms embargo proposal on Gaza after heated debate.
Later, at a press conference regarding the Catholic School shooting, Frey, standing alongside police, called the attack “an unspeakable act of evil.” Police confirmed that two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed and 17 others injured, 14 of them children. The gunman, a man in his early 20s, died by suicide after the attack, police said.
For Democrats, the tragedy cut short three days of strategy sessions, resolutions, and planning, with the tragedy occurring in their host city. The next DNC meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11–13 in Los Angeles, Martin said.
