DNC Chair Says Woke Won't Return

Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, made the remark on Fox News Channel's Special Report.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Employment

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Do you think the country is heading in the right direction?

Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said woke is not coming back during an appearance on Fox News Channel's Special Report, responding to host Bret Baier. Exit polling showed three quarters of voters said the country was heading in the wrong direction.

Why it matters

The exchange reflects how Democratic leaders are addressing voter sentiment, with exit polling showing a large majority of voters pessimistic about the country's direction. Martin's remarks shape how the party positions itself on cultural issues heading into the next political cycle.

Exit polling found three quarters of voters said the country was heading in the wrong direction. The extraction does not provide a comparator or sample size for this figure, and the underlying methodology was not specified.

The players

Ken Martin

Ken Martin is chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the governing body of the Democratic Party.

Bret Baier

Bret Baier is a Fox News Channel anchor who hosts the political program Special Report.

The details

On Wednesday, Ken Martin appeared on Fox News Channel's Special Report, where host Bret Baier asked whether woke is coming back. Martin answered that it is not, and stated that gas prices, electricity costs, and grocery prices were more pressing voter concerns than woke issues.

November 4, 2026: Ken Martin made the remarks on Special Report.

Market Dynamics

The exit-polling finding that three quarters of voters see the country on the wrong track sets the backdrop against which Martin is repositioning the party's messaging on cultural issues. Martin's argument that economic costs outweigh cultural concerns echoes the economic framing that has dominated recent national elections.

Martin's emphasis on gas, electricity, and grocery prices points to cost-of-living concerns that directly affect household budgets. Voters' concern about the country's direction may shape policy debates over prices and wages in the months ahead.

The takeaway

Voter pessimism about the country's direction is driving party messaging toward everyday costs rather than cultural debates. Readers tracking the economy should watch whether gas, electricity, and grocery prices become central to the next political cycle.