Posted on 04/16/2025 11:53:09 AM PDT by Red Badger
David Hogg, a controversial Democratic National Committee vice chair, is pledging to upend Democratic primaries by funding candidates who will challenge “ineffective, asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats.
The move puts Hogg, the now 25-year-old who first gained national stature as an outspoken survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, on a collision course with his own party and some Democratic House members.
Leaders We Deserve, which Hogg co-founded in 2023, announced plans on Tuesday to spend $20 million in safe-blue Democratic primaries against sitting House members by supporting younger opponents. In an interview with POLITICO, Hogg said the group will not back primary challenges in battleground districts because “I want us to win the majority,” nor will it target members solely based on their age.
“We have a culture of seniority politics that has created a litmus test of who deserves to be here,” Hogg said. “We need people, regardless of their age, that are here to fight.”
It’s an unprecedented, and controversial, move from a national officer within the Democratic Party that will enrage some insiders. Democratic Party committees, like the DNC, have traditionally not opposed incumbents in their own party, focusing instead on attacking Republicans, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is explicitly set up to protect incumbent members by providing resources, fundraising and strategy.
Hogg’s decision comes at a time when the Democratic Party is grappling with how to confront President Donald Trump — and with what kind of Democrats can be their most effective messengers against the administration. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have faced intense pressure from base voters to ramp up their opposition to Trump’s administration.
When asked if DNC Chair Ken Martin supports his plan, Hogg said Martin “certainly has different views” on challenging incumbents.
“There are disagreements in our party about the right way to approach this moment. There are certainly disagreements we have,” Hogg said. “What I will say about Chair Martin, even if we do have disagreements, he’s doing an excellent job of building and reforming our party.”
In a statement, Martin said that “in order to ensure we are as effective as possible at electing Democrats to office, it is the DNC’s longstanding position that primary voters — not the national party — determine their Democratic candidates for the general election.”
He praised Hogg as a “passionate advocate,” adding he is grateful for his service “whether it be in his role as a DNC Vice Chair or in an outside capacity.”
A DNC aide, granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics, also noted that all DNC officers other than Hogg signed a “neutrality policy,” pledging to stay out of primaries in their official and personal capacity.
The New York Times first reported the news of Hogg’s decision.
Hogg burst onto the political scene as a survivor of the high school shooting in Parkland, Fla., in 2018 and was elected as a vice chair of the DNC in February, over the objection of moderates who complained about his history of far-left rhetoric. Traditionally, DNC vice chairs are largely ceremonial roles with little public attention and even less power. But Hogg is testing the limits of the position — and the DNC’s willingness to stomach internal dissent.
Hogg argued that backing primary challengers is in line with what he ran on for his DNC role. “I am not in this position because I want to bank my political capital. I just want change. I want to see a stronger Democratic Party,” he said.
He acknowledged “there are going to be people who are very, very upset about this” but argued Democrats “are in a crisis right now,” citing a recent CNN poll that found the party’s approval rating at 29 percent, a record low for the party.
“Our base is craving dramatic change,” Hogg said. “We need to show our base we’re here to fight for them. We need to show there are younger faces stepping up.”
But Hogg did name-check two exceptions: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is 85, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who is 80. He described them as “fighters who are delivering.”
But they’ve also both drawn generational challengers — Saikat Chakrabarti, the 39-year-old former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is running against Pelosi, and YouTube influencer Kat Abughazaleh, 26, who is running against Schakowsky. Hogg said Leaders We Deserve they would not intervene in either race.
There are other Democratic candidates, however, who are pitching themselves as generational change agents, from California to Indiana. Several Democratic operatives, granted anonymity to discuss private discussions, said they expect more primary challenges against older members in New York, Maryland and Massachusetts.
Called it yesterday, they want to sweep out the older democrats for not going communist fast enough and replace them with more hardcore younger activists...
Not going to be good when the democrats take power again and go full communist...
To expand on / clarify my previous post:
He is in America.
President Trump has expressed his desire that ENGLISH is the official language of the United States.
And there are not THAT many Chinese-speaking citizens, that such a form of solidarity would make a huge difference —
as if this guy’s position were an elected one anyway.
Hence, presumptive CCP Spy, in my book.
“Our base is craving dramatic change,” Hogg said. “We need to show our base we’re here to fight for them. We need to show there are younger faces stepping up.”
your assessment is spot on...remember Joe Rogan is a liberal who supported Bernie Sanders in 2016. He voted for Trump because the Democrats became too crazy.
Dylan Mulvaney could go on a whirlwind tour with him. It would be fabulous!
Hogg doesn't understand - THE PARTY has to have something to fight FOR.
Are they fighting for men who want to pretend they're women? For illegals who want to live in the United State AND be criminal gang members? Maybe fighting for the sexual mutilation of children? For open borders? What the hell are democrats fighting FOR hogg...
When it comes to presidential elections, this is pure BS.
Insiders have stacked the deck for president by assigning unprecedented power to “super electors” to keep upstarts like this from succeeding.
I think they’re fomenting an internal war if this place.
Good for them!
Got Popcorn?
He’s playing a very dangerous game with very dangerous people. This will not end well for him.
Hogg looks EXACTLY like Goebbels......dies znyone hzve those 2 pics...skde by side?
Hogg was there, was in class, and hid in the closet with other students who he was recording on his phone.
"“whether it be in his role as a DNC Vice Chair or in an outside capacity.”A DNC aide, granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics, also noted that all DNC officers other than Hogg signed a “neutrality policy,” pledging to stay out of primaries in their official and personal capacity."
The Democrats will -- through their usual channels -- release their pics of him in 3,2,1...
Mulvaney and Hogg. I might pay to not see that!
The Democrat U.S. Senators voted 45 to 0 for men to play in women’s sports.
I guess even unanimous agreement is not good enough for true revolutionaries...
Lol. Great idea. Get rid of the few who aren’t insane radicals. Make AOC the spokesperson, too
Children
And lets not forget that Hogg’s father was FBI.
He was not a survivor. He was not even there that day!
“Leaders We Deserve, which Hogg co-founded in 2023, announced plans on Tuesday to spend $20 million”
How does this organization founded only a couple years ago by this little pissant have 20 million to spend?
No Worries!
It will soon be revealed that Roger Lau is, in fact, a caucASIAN.
Will Roger Lau admit to his life long caucASIAN privilege? Did his caucASIAN ancestors own slaves?
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