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Ben Wikler

[[Dan Wikler]] (father) [[John Warlick McDonald|John McDonald]] (grandfather) [[Abraham Wikler]] (grandfather)"},"education":{"wt":"[[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA...

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Benjamin McDonald Wikler (born February 3, 1981) is an American political organizer who served as the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from July 2019 to July 2025. A former senior advisor at MoveOn, Nancy Pelosi called him a "preeminent state party chair.”[1][2]

Early life and education

Ben Wikler grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where he cofounded The Yellow Press, a student-run newspaper at Madison West High School.[3] While a student there, he won election to the student senate[4] and launched Students United in Defense of Schools[5] with Peter Koechley[6] to demand increased school funding[7] and succeeded in allowing students to elect a representative to the Madison School Board.[8][9] He also organized protests against granting Coca-Cola exclusive access to Madison schools.[10] During high school he worked for Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Ed Garvey[11] and on the first congressional campaign of now-Senator Tammy Baldwin.[12]

En 1999, comenzó a asistir a la Universidad de Harvard, donde estudió economía. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] Mientras era estudiante allí, cofundó la Campaña Estudiantil Global contra el SIDA (SGAC) y la Coalición contra el SIDA de Harvard. [ 15 ] Representó a la SGAC en la Sesión Especial sobre el SIDA de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas en la ciudad de Nueva York, el Foro Mundial de la Juventud de la ONU en Senegal y la Conferencia Internacional sobre el SIDA en Barcelona. También trabajó para el economista Jeffrey Sachs [ 16 ] y realizó una pasantía con el senador estadounidense Russ Feingold . [ 17 ] Fue editor jefe de la Harvard Review of Philosophy y colaboró ​​con The Onion . [ 11 ]

Mientras estaba en Harvard, se unió a TeamFranken, un grupo de estudiantes que ayudaron a Al Franken a escribir su libro Mentiras y los mentirosos que las cuentan: Una mirada justa y equilibrada a la derecha . Wikler se tomó un semestre libre para ayudar a Franken "en cada paso del proceso" de escribir el libro. [ 18 ] "Cuando me quedaba con los Franken [para terminar el libro], nos levantábamos alrededor de las 10 u 11 y luego trabajábamos durante catorce o quince horas", le dijo a un entrevistador. "Solo parábamos para las comidas y un pequeño descanso antes de la cena. Era agotador, pero también estimulante, porque es muy gracioso. Nos reíamos constantemente". [ 11 ]

Wikler se graduó con honores en 2003 con una licenciatura en economía. [ 19 ]

Carrera

Tras graduarse, Wikler se convirtió en productor fundador del programa de radio de Al Franken, The Al Franken Show , donde colaboró ​​en el libro de Franken, The Truth (with Jokes) . «No habría sido posible sin Ben Wikler», escribe Franken. «Ben me recuerda a mí mismo cuando tenía su edad, solo que más inteligente, más sabio, más experimentado, más culto, más apasionado, mucho más alto y igual de divertido. Ben me acompañó en cada paso de este libro. Le estoy inmensamente agradecido». [ 20 ]

En 2006, Wikler fue secretario de prensa de la campaña al Senado de los Estados Unidos de Sherrod Brown y fue el primer editor jefe de Comedy 23/6 , un sitio web de noticias de comedia creado como una coproducción del Huffington Post e IAC . [ 21 ]

En marzo de 2007, se convirtió en director de campaña de Avaaz , donde ayudó a que la organización creciera hasta alcanzar más de diez millones de miembros. Dirigió campañas sobre cambio climático, pobreza, derechos humanos y otros temas, y también gestionó los equipos de tecnología y comunicación. [ 22 ] Presentó los premios "Fósil del Día" en las negociaciones climáticas de la ONU de 2007 a 2009 para la Climate Action Network . [ 23 ] A finales de 2011, Wikler se convirtió en vicepresidente ejecutivo de Change.org . [ 24 ]

En 2011, Wikler regresó brevemente a Wisconsin para protestar por la aprobación de la Ley 10 , que anuló los derechos de negociación colectiva de los empleados públicos. [ 25 ]

En enero de 2012, Wikler y Aaron Swartz [ 26 ] lanzaron un programa de radio y podcast , The Flaming Sword of Justice , [ 27 ] en We Act Radio WPWC 1480 AM en Washington DC, [ 28 ] en el que entrevista a otros activistas de los EE. UU. y de todo el mundo. Entre los invitados se encuentran Ricken Patel , Zack Exley y Eli Pariser .

La buena lucha

En noviembre de 2013, Wikler relanzó su programa como The Good Fight , un podcast y programa de radio patrocinado por MoveOn.org . [ 29 ] El primer episodio del programa contó con la participación del senador Al Franken [ 30 ] y alcanzó el puesto número 1 en las listas de podcasts de iTunes de EE. UU. [ 31 ] The Good Fight era un podcast y programa de radio semanal de una hora de duración que, según su sitio web, "te trae una mezcla de comedia, activismo y batallas de David contra Goliat contadas desde el punto de vista de detrás de la honda". Los invitados iban desde activistas de base poco conocidos hasta senadores estadounidenses. Los episodios se emitieron en 1480 AM en DC [ 32 ] El académico y activista Lawrence Lessig hizo un llamamiento en su blog para que sus lectores apoyaran una campaña de Kickstarter para financiar The Good Fight . [ 33 ] El podcast terminó en 2016. [ 34 ] [ 35 ]

MoveOn.org

Wikler se convirtió en director de MoveOn.org en Washington a principios de 2014. [ 36 ]

He led the organization's efforts to encourage Elizabeth Warren to run for president, putting him at odds with friend Howard Dean, who endorsed Hillary Clinton. Dean declined to criticize the effort and Wikler, saying, "I appreciate you trying to pick a fight between Ben and I [sic]. I happen to know Ben, and he's one of the smartest people under 35 in the entire country."[37]

In late 2015 Wikler led MoveOn's advocacy on behalf of Syrian immigrants, helping to organize and coordinate efforts by a number of nonprofit groups.[38]

In 2017, Wikler led grassroots protests against the attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act, helping contribute to the Senate's failure to pass the ACA-repealing American Health Care Act of 2017.[39]

Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Wikler at UW–Madison's Library Mall on the day of the 2023 Wisconsin spring general election (which included a highly-prominent state supreme court election)
Wikler speaking at the Alliant Energy Center during a September 2024 rally for Kamala Harris's presidential campaign

In 2018, Wikler and his family moved to Wisconsin, where Ben volunteered with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin as Tony Evers defeated Scott Walker.[40]

Wikler announced his campaign for chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (DPW) on February 21, 2019, running on a slate with Felesia Martin and Lee Snodgrass.[41] On June 2, 2019, Wikler was elected chair of DPW.[42] He received 1,006 votes, beating opposing candidate state Representative David Bowen who earned 233 votes.[43]

Since assuming office, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin has won seven of the last ten statewide races in a state considered by political operatives to be “50-50.”[44] He has focused DPW on grassroots organizing: "Unlike almost any other state party in the country, we have a field team of organizers working across Wisconsin to build neighborhood teams and work with county parties to get volunteers out on doors."[45] In 2020, Wisconsin flipped the presidential race from red to blue. In 2022, Governor Tony Evers became the first Democrat to win a Wisconsin Governor’s race during a Democratic presidency in more than half a century. In 2023, Wisconsin Democrats invested $10 million – the most in history for a state Supreme Court race – to elect Janet Protasiewicz as a state Supreme Court justice and end conservative control of Wisconsin’s highest court for the first time in 15 years.[46] The new majority ended the GOP’s gerrymander of the state legislature later that year.[47]

Wikler has raised nearly $230 million for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in the last five years – a state party record over that time period.[48] Party leaders have praised his efforts to turn the Wisconsin state party around.[49] Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Ben Wikler "Big Ben", who "is recognized nationally as a preeminent state party chair… His reputation is a great one." Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer declared him "one of the best chairs of a state party – not just today, but ever."

2025 Democratic National Committee Chair race

On December 1, 2024, Wikler announced his intention to run for chair of the Democratic National Committee. In his launch video, Wikler declared that "The soul of the Democratic Party is the fight for working people… What has made a difference in Wisconsin can make a difference everywhere. We need a nationwide permanent campaign, with a battle plan and resources for every state and territory in the country. We have to think and build long-term—while showing, through our actions, who we are."[50]

On February 1, 2025, Wikler came in second with 134 votes in the DNC Chair race after winner Ken Martin, who had 246 votes.[51]

State chair departure

On April 10, 2025, Wikler announced his decision not to run for re-election for chair of Wisconsin Democratic Party. A new chair was elected in June 2025.[52][53]

Personal life

Wikler met his wife Beth (née McCarthy) when putting posters together for a protest.[12] She also attended Harvard, graduating cum laude with a degree in social studies and a certificate in health policy.[19] They married in Little Rock, Arkansas, on November 24, 2007.[19] They live with their three children and dog in Madison, Wisconsin.[54] His father, Daniel I. Wikler, is a philosopher and ethicist at Harvard School of Public Health; his mother, Lynn McDonald, is a retired psychologist.[13] Wikler is Jewish.[55]

References

  1. ↑Chuck Quirmbach (December 11, 2024). "Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair aims to become the national chair of the DNC". NPR.org.
  2. ↑"Ben Wikler | Senior Advisor, MoveOn.org". MoveOn.Org. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  3. ↑Erickson, Doug (August 28, 2003). "West Grad Works with Comic Franken. Ben Wikler, a Senior at Harvard, is a Research Assistant for Al Franken's Latest Book, a No. 1 Bestseller on Amazon". The Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2013.(subscription required)
  4. ↑"Delay Seen in Electing Student to School Board". The Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. June 1, 1998. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.(subscription required)
  5. ↑"Schools Falling Apart and Need Money, Students Tell Legislators". The Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. April 16, 1999. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2013.(subscription required)
  6. ↑"Students Attack Budget Caps". The Capital Times. Madison, Wisconsin. April 8, 1999. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2013.(subscription required)
  7. ↑ "Estudiantes se oponen al límite salarial" . The Capital Times . Madison, Wisconsin. 20 de abril de 1999. Archivado del original el 10 de junio de 2014. Consultado el 25 de noviembre de 2013 .(Se requiere suscripción)
  8. ↑ Burch, Chris (26 de mayo de 1998). "Se elegirá representante estudiantil de secundaria para la junta escolar de Madison" . Madison, Wisconsin: Distrito Escolar Metropolitano de Madison . Archivado del original el 25 de abril de 2012. Consultado el 25 de noviembre de 2013 .
  9. ↑ Burch, Chris (22 de octubre de 1998). "Ploeser gana un puesto estudiantil en la Junta de Educación" . Distrito Escolar Metropolitano de Madison. Archivado del original el 25 de abril de 2012. Recuperado el 15 de noviembre de 2013 .
  10. ↑ Wikler, Benjamin; Rebecca Dilley (agosto de 1997). "¿Un trato dulce? Coca-Cola y el distrito escolar de Madison" . The Yellow Press . Vol. 2, n.º 1. Archivado del original el 25 de noviembre de 2014. Recuperado el 25 de noviembre de 2013 .  
  11. 1 2 3 "Entrevista de AlFrankenWeb.com: Ben Wikler" . 13 de noviembre de 2003. Archivado del original el 15 de abril de 2008.
  12. 1 2 "Ben Wikler combina el activismo progresista con la comedia en su nuevo podcast de Washington | InTheCapital" . Archivado del original el 26 de julio de 2014. Recuperado el 16 de julio de 2014 .
  13. 1 2 "Elizabeth McCarthy, Benjamin Wikler" . The New York Times . 25 de noviembre de 2007.anuncio de boda
  14. ↑ "Página de LinkedIn de Ben Wikler" . Consultado el 19 de noviembre de 2020 .
  15. ↑ Wikler, Benjamin M. (15 de marzo de 2001). "Lucha contra el SIDA en África" . Harvard Crimson . Consultado el 25 de noviembre de 2013 .
  16. ↑ "Ben Wikler y Phil de Vellis" . HuffPost . Archivado del original el 15 de marzo de 2016. Consultado el 4 de noviembre de 2011 .
  17. ↑ "Ben Wikler" . HuffPost . Consultado el 25 de noviembre de 2013 .biografía
  18. ↑ Mentiras , pág. 370.
  19. 123"Elizabeth Grant McCarthy Benjamin McDonald Wikler". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. December 2, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  20. ↑The Truth, p. 335f
  21. ↑Siklos, Richard (October 31, 2006). "Diller's Web: Think Cable Of the Past". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  22. ↑"Changing the World of Changing the World: Pushing the Models of Online Organizing | Berkman Klein Center". cyber.harvard.edu. July 20, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  23. ↑"Shock Fossil to Austria, Nordic countries on first day of Copenhagen!". December 7, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  24. ↑Hockenson, Lauren. "How Change.org Is Revolutionizing Internet Activism". Mashable. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  25. ↑"Capitol Notes: What's next for the Act 10 battle and Ben Wikler's candidacy for DNC Chair?".
  26. ↑Raptopoulos, Lilah (July 11, 2014). "Listen to this: Ben Wikler and Aaron Swartz's The Good Fight". The Guardian. Retrieved November 19, 2020– via www.theguardian.com.
  27. ↑"The Flaming Sword of Justice with Ben Wikler". Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  28. ↑"The Flaming Sword of Justice". We Act Radio. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  29. ↑Raptopoulos, Lilah (July 11, 2014). "Listen to this: Ben Wikler and Aaron Swartz's The Good Fight". The Guardian. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  30. ↑"Al Franken Helps Radio Pal Flog New Show - Heard on the Hill". Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  31. ↑"iTunesCharts.net: 'The Good Fight, with Ben Wikler' by Ben Wikler (American Podcasts iTunes Chart)". www.itunescharts.net. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  32. ↑"The Good Fight, with Ben Wikler - the Good Fight with Ben Wikler". Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  33. ↑"Ben Wikler is no longer 33 (and The Good Fight still hasn't met its Kickstarter goal)". LESSIG Blog, v2. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  34. ↑"The Good Fight with Ben Wikler". Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  35. ↑"The Good Fight, with Ben Wikler". thegoodfight.libsyn.com.
  36. ↑Freedlander, David (December 10, 2014). "Progressives: Big Ideas Will Win Us 2016". The Daily Beast.
  37. ↑"Madison native at the helm of mega-successful podcast". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  38. ↑"MoveOn Takes the Lead in Nonprofits Advocacy for Refugee Crisis Funding". Nonprofit Quarterly. October 30, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  39. ↑Hamer, Emily (June 3, 2019). "Wisconsin Democrats pick Ben Wikler as new leader of party ahead 2020 campaign". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  40. ↑Nichols, John (June 12, 2023). "Ben Wikler is Bringing His Activist Roots to His Bid for DNC Chair". The Nation.
  41. ↑"Ben Wikler for Wisconsin". Ben Wikler for Wisconsin. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  42. ↑"Former MoveOn.org leader Wikler to lead Wisconsin Democrats". AP NEWS. June 3, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  43. ↑Reilly, Briana (June 2, 2019). "Democrats elect Ben Wikler as state party chair". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  44. ↑Gilbert, Craig. "In a 50/50 Wisconsin electorate, what does a 'neutral' election map look like?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  45. ↑"Wisconsin state parties ramping up for 2020 presidential election". CBS58. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  46. ↑Shawn Johnson (April 4, 2023). "For the first time in 15 years, liberals win control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court". NPR.
  47. ↑"Wisconsin Picks New Legislative Maps That Would End Years of GOP Gerrymandering". February 16, 2024.
  48. ↑"Democratic Party of Wisconsin: Joint Fundraising Committee Summary | OpenSecrets".
  49. ↑"Politico: Wisconsin's Wikler among Democrats rumored for DNC chair". November 14, 2024.
  50. ↑"x.com". X (formerly Twitter).
  51. ↑John, Arit (February 1, 2025). "Democrats pick Minnesota's Ken Martin as new chair as party grapples with Trump's flurry of actions". CNN. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  52. ↑Schneider, Elena (April 10, 2025). "Ben Wikler to leave Wisconsin Democratic Party post in June". POLITICO. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  53. ↑Epstein, Reid J. (April 10, 2025). "After Reviving Democrats in Wisconsin, Ben Wikler Is Stepping Down". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  54. ↑Elbow, Steven (December 4, 2018). "Democratic leaders, protesters fire up crowd for fight with GOP". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  55. ↑https://x.com/benwikler/status/1528786538301104133
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