David Hogg Reacts After DNC Makes Move to Redo Vote for His Position

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg released a statement Monday night after a vote passed, clearing a key hurdle in an effort to void the internal election that promoted him to his leadership position.

Newsweek reached to the DNC via online form Monday night for comment.

Why It Matters

Democrats have seemingly been in disarray since losing the White House, Senate and Congress after the 2024 presidential election. Uproar over certain policies and uncertainty surrounding which leader to rally behind within the party has frayed internal cohesion.

It is unclear to whom the party will ultimately rally behind, as polling shows former Vice President Kamala Harris leading the pack of potential presidential 2028 candidates, followed by New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

What To Know

According to The New York Times, the debate and vote by the credentials committee took over three hours.

The issue was questioning if the original vote followed proper voting procedures and comes in the background of Hogg’s public feud with DNC leadership over primary elections.

Hogg has become the face of an initiative urging his party to primary Democratic incumbent candidates. The initiative sparked division at the DNC, as Chair Ken Martin said no committee official should attempt to influence the outcome of a primary election. According to the Associated Press (AP), Martin said he would draw up a bylaw requiring DNC staff to remain neutral.

Ultimately the vote passed on Monday, carving the path for a future vote involving the entire committee. The vote will decide whether Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta, his co-chair, will need to run in a subsequent election this year.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Semafor reporter David Weigel posted Hogg’s statement, saying in part, “Today, the DNC took its first steps to remove me from my position as Vice Chair At-Large.”

Hogg continued, “While this vote was based on how the DNC conducted its officers’ elections, which I had nothing to do with, it is also impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote.”

In an exclusive to Newsweek this month, Hogg said in part that “Obviously I would prefer that I not be removed; however, in the case that I am, I’m still going to fight to build the strongest Democratic Party possible.”

Continuing his statement after the credentials committee vote, Hogg said, “I ran to be DNC Vice Chair to help make the Democratic Party better, not to defend an indefensible status quo that has caused voters in almost every demographic group to move away from us.”

Concluding, Hogg said, “The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort.”

Monday’s vote was prompted by a complaint from Kalyn Free, who lost the vice chair election. Free said the DNC combined questions into a single vote, going against the DNC’s gender balance rules, according to the Times.

David Hogg is seen speaking onstage during the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2024 at BMCC Tribeca PAC on September 17, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Fast Company)

What People Are Saying

Martin, in a statement sent to Newsweek via email on Monday: “During my campaign for Chair, I pledged to run the DNC with integrity, openness, and fairness. I am disappointed to learn that before I became Chair, there was a procedural error in the February Vice Chair elections.”

Martin continued, “The Credentials Committee has issued their recommendation, and I trust that the DNC Members will carefully review the Committee’s resolution and resolve this matter fairly. I thank all of our officers for their service, including Vice Chairs Kenyatta and Hogg, and look forward to continuing to work with them in their officer posts as this matter is resolved.”

Kenyatta posted to X on Monday in a thread, in part: “The credentials committee believed, as they stated, that they are remedying a procedural flaw. But doing so the way they did, is a slap in my face. I’m frustrated, but I’ll be ok.”

Kenyatta continued, “However any story about this, that neatly places this into a narrative about David Hogg is wrong. I worked my ass off to get this role and have done the job every day since I’ve held it. This story is complex and I’m frustrated— but it’s not about @davidhogg111. Even though he clearly wants it to be.”

Newsweek also reached out to Kenyatta via X for additional comment Monday night.

Democratic strategist Waleed Shahid posted to X on Monday: “The DNC has spent much more time discussing their 25-year-old vice chair than on any sort of audit or autopsy of the $1 billion Harris campaign.”

Alex Bruesewitz, conservative political consultant and Trump adviser, posted to X on Monday: “David Hogg’s activism has significantly bolstered support for President Trump, inspiring countless Americans to align with the MAGA movement. His influence as a skilled operative has been invaluable.”

Bruesewitz continued: “We strongly oppose the DNC’s efforts to remove him from his fairly earned position as Vice Chair. This action undermines democratic principles, and we demand the DNC HALT this unjust maneuver immediately. Protecting democracy begins with standing firmly with David Hogg in his rightful role. STOP THE COUP! Thank you.”