DNC Committee Votes To Cancel David Hogg’s Election As Democratic Vice Chair

A Democratic National Committee (DNC) panel has recommended that Parkland survivor David Hogg and colleague Malcolm Kenyatta face a new election for their roles.

Hogg, a gun control activist and survivor of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting, has been serving as one of five vice chairs of the DNC since February, but he has faced scrutiny for recent political activities.

The DNC leads and supports the Democratic Party nationwide by raising funds, setting election rules, and helping Democratic candidates win elections.

Hogg said the decision is retaliation for his political activism

Image credits: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

In a decision on Monday, a panel recommended a new election for the two vice chair positions, citing concerns over a procedural issue involving gender balance requirements.

The challenge originated from DNC member Kalyn Free of Oklahoma, who argued that the February vote breached the party’s rules on gender representation.

Rules on gender representation state that men and women must be represented as equally as possible in party roles and decision-making.

Free argued the party had made it harder for a woman to be elected as vice chair and had violated its own rules.

Hogg, 25, recently announced his grassroots organization – Leaders We Deserve – co-founded with Kevin Lata, will spend $20 million to support a new generation of political leaders.

The initiative includes backing challengers running against established House Democrats in securely blue districts.

Hogg claims the re-election, which could lead to his removal, is retaliation for his push to reform the party.

“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,” Hogg said in a statement.

“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.”

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

Democratic strategist James Carville was among those to criticize Hogg’s plan to challenge incumbent Democrats.

The pair both appeared on The Tara Palmeri Show to debate the issue.

Carville called Hogg’s strategy “abominable” and accused it of prioritizing the removal of Democrats instead of focusing on beating Republicans.

Hogg said the party has the capacity to do both.

“You have to understand the nuance here—” Hogg started.

“I don’t,” Carville interjected, as both began to speak over each other. “There’s no nuance here. It’s just flat-out wrong. That’s money that should be used to take down Republicans, not Democrats.”

Kenyatta said the story wasn’t about Hogg, even if he wanted it to be

Just called @DavidHogg111. He reminded me of the story of, after the battle of Shiloh, Henry Halleck urged President Lincoln to fire Ulysses Grant. Lincoln said: “I can’t fire him. This man fights.” David Hogg fights. The DNC needs him.

— James Carville (@JamesCarville) April 30, 2025

“Alright, James,” Hogg responded. “What’s your plan to address our abysmal approval rating?”

“Win elections!” Carville snapped. “Win elections, you get me? Against Republicans.”

He continued, “You want my game plan? It’s to win elections, not to win some race in Queens where you never face a Republican. It’s about helping Democrats win elections.”

After the episode, Carville posted on X saying he has spoken with Hogg and emphasized that the DNC “needs him.”

Kenyatta also said he was “pissed” that the challenge won and criticized media reports claiming the vote was in retaliation for Hogg’s activism.

Free’s complaint was filed before Hogg announced the intentions of Leaders We Deserve, Kenyatta said.

Image credits: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images

“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,” he wrote on X.

“Any story about this that neatly places this into a narrative about David Hogg is wrong,” Kenyatta added.

“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.”

For those who don’t want to read all that here’s a video: https://t.co/9vuq5Oyccdpic.twitter.com/aVbEdCK5jr

— Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta) May 13, 2025

Earlier this month, DNC Chair Ken Martin suggested on social media that Hogg should either take a neutrality pledge or step down.

In a long X thread, he appeared to suggest that Hogg’s actions could jeopardize the party’s unity, emphasizing that DNC officers must remain impartial during primaries to avoid undermining the party’s credibility.

“Party officers have one job: to be fair stewards of a process that invites every Democrat to the table—regardless of personal views or allegiances,” part of his post read.

A final decision will be made by the full DNC, either through a virtual vote or at its summer meeting in August.