The Democratic National Committee is spiraling into what some call “chaos” as it moves to oust David Hogg, a young activist turned vice chair, over a procedural squabble.
Breitbart reported that the party’s credentials committee, in a lopsided 13-2 vote, voided February’s election results, stripping Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta of their co-vice chair roles. Turns out, even progressive darlings aren’t immune to the DNC’s bureaucratic guillotine.
A complaint from losing candidate Kalyn Free sparked this upheaval, alleging the DNC bungled the election by merging two questions into one vote.
This, she claimed, tilted the scales against female candidates under the party’s gender-parity rules. The credentials committee’s ruling, while technical, smells like a convenient excuse to sideline a firebrand like Hogg.
Hogg, never one to shy away from the spotlight, has been rattling cages with his $20 million plan to primary “ineffective” Democrats. The Democratic Lt. Governor’s Association also jumped into the fray, pledging big bucks for a primary ad blitz in Illinois. Clearly, Hogg’s reformist zeal isn’t winning him friends in the party’s smoke-filled rooms.
The credentials committee’s Monday vote wasn’t explicitly about Hogg’s primary plans, but the timing raises eyebrows.
Past vice chairs have backed primary candidates without catching this kind of heat. Apparently, Hogg’s brand of activism is a bridge too far for the DNC’s old guard.
“Today, the DNC took its first steps to remove me,” Hogg declared, framing the vote as a jab at his reform efforts. He’s not wrong to suspect a broader agenda—his push to shake up the party threatens entrenched interests. But crying foul over a process he didn’t control feels a bit like deflecting blame.
Hogg didn’t stop there, blasting the party’s leadership as “asleep at the wheel” while Trump looms large. “Voters still trust him more than Democrats,” he warned, pointing to the party’s dismal polling. It’s a bold swing, but one wonders if Hogg’s grandstanding is helping or hurting his cause.
Kalyn Free’s complaint centered on the DNC’s election mechanics, not Hogg’s politics, but the fallout has exposed deeper rifts.
Her argument about gender-parity rules carries weight—combining votes could dilute female candidates’ chances. Yet, the committee’s swift action suggests more than just procedural fairness at play.
DNC Chairman Ken Martin, ever the stickler for neutrality, didn’t mince words. “Party officers have one job: to be fair stewards,” he said, demanding impartiality. His call for Hogg to stay neutral or step down is a polite way of saying, “Pick a lane, kid.”
Martin doubled down, insisting there be “no thumb on the scale, no backroom deals.” It’s a noble sentiment, but the DNC’s history of meddling in primaries makes his sermon ring hollow. Pot, meet kettle.
Hogg’s $20 million primary war chest, announced last month, has clearly ruffled feathers. Targeting “ineffective” Democrats sounds principled, but it’s a direct challenge to the party’s power brokers. Actions have consequences, and Hogg’s learning that the hard way.
The Democratic Lt. Governor’s Association’s seven-figure ad spend in Illinois shows Hogg isn’t alone in his crusade.
Still, taking on incumbents in primaries is a risky gambit, especially when party unity is already on life support. Hogg’s allies might cheer, but the establishment isn’t amused.
“I hate to be the party of chaos,” quipped Marj Halperin, summing up the DNC’s predicament. The GOP’s own dysfunction makes the Democrats’ infighting all the more embarrassing. Nobody wants to be the understudy in a clown show.
Martin’s insistence on neutrality is standard for party officers, but it’s a tough sell when the base craves bold change. Hogg’s activism, while divisive, taps into real frustration with a party that’s lost its edge. Forcing him out might quiet the noise, but it won’t fix the Democrats’ bigger problems.