Several Democrats have had mixed reactions over former Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair David Hogg being pushed out of his role, which he had held for only four months.
The DNC on Wednesday voted to remove Hogg from his vice chair position and require him to run again due to a procedural complaint, Politico first reported. Shortly after the DNC’s decision, Hogg announced Wednesday in a post to X that he would not be seeking reelection as one of the DNC’s vice chairs.
“Ultimately, I have decided to not run in this upcoming election so the party can focus on what really matters,” Hogg wrote in the social media post. “I need to do this work with Leaders We Deserve, and it is going to remain my number one mission to build the strongest party possible.”
Some DNC members have expressed disappointment over Hogg exiting, while others said they were relieved, The Hill reported Thursday.
“I think the overall sense is relief that we can finally move on from what has truly been a distraction from the good work that needs to be done to build up our party infrastructure and take the fight to Republicans each and every day and to make the case to American people that Democrats are able and willing to stand up for American values,” Michael Kapp, a DNC committee member from California, told The Hill.
John Verdejo, a DNC committee member from North Carolina, told the Hill that he was “surprised” that Hogg decided not to seek reelection.
“I was surprised and taken aback that he would decide not to run after the votes came in,” Verdejo told the outlet.
Moreover, Howard Chou, a DNC committee member from Colorado, told the Hill he felt “indifferent” about whether Hogg chose to seek reelection. Though, Chou told the outlet that Hogg’s exit from the DNC was a “loss” for its members, adding he felt “a little bit disappointed all around because I really wanted to see his energy and leadership contribute to our success.”
“It’s unfortunate that he [Hogg] decided to pull out,” Clay Middleton, a DNC committee member from South Carolina, told the Hill, adding that he believes Hogg “would not have been able to face some of the questions again” if he had decided to run in the upcoming election.
Hogg ignited a firestorm among members of his own party after Leaders We Deserve, a political group he co-founded, unveiled plans in April to shell out $20 million to primary Democratic incumbents who he viewed as “ineffective.”
On Sunday, leaked audio from a private meeting with party officials in May revealed that DNC chair Ken Martin had voiced frustration over the intraparty backlash sparked by Hogg’s decision to lead an effort to primary certain incumbent Democrats, Politico reported.
Still, National President of the College Democrats of America Sunjay Muralitharan wrote Wednesday in a post to X that he was “grateful” for Hogg’s “commitment” to his organization and “young Americans everywhere.”
“Whenever he was on the road, he always asked to be connected with local College Democrats chapter leadership,” Muralitharan wrote in the social media post. “He took time out of his busy schedule to actually listen to what we thought and uplifted our voices at times when it felt like no one was listening.”
“While David is no longer in the DNC, I look forward to continue [continuing] to work with him to center youth voices and ensure that we win big in 2026 and beyond,” Muralitharan added.
Hogg and a DNC spokesperson did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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