Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and commissioner of the Social Security Administration, on Monday became the first person to announce a bid to lead the Democratic National Committee as the party plots a post-election path forward.

Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor, has stepped down as Social Security Administration commissioner to become the first to announce his candidacy for chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The race for Democratic Party chair has officially launched with a onetime Maryland governor and unsuccessful presidential candidate Martin O'Malley announcing a bid to take the reins. O'Malley, who has faded from the national scene of late,