In a bold move that has stunned political circles, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg is set to shake up the establishment by challenging his own party’s incumbents during the primaries. Hogg plans to invest a massive $20 million from his organization, Leaders We Deserve, into a campaign to replace entrenched Democrat lawmakers with a new wave of younger, more progressive candidates.
During an interview with Politico, Hogg made his intentions clear, stating, “We have a culture of seniority politics that has created a litmus test of who deserves to be here. We need people, regardless of their age, that are here to fight.”
It’s no surprise that this bold approach has ruffled feathers within the Democratic Party. DNC Chair Ken Martin acknowledged the controversial move, emphasizing that primary voters, not the national party, traditionally determine candidates for the general election. Nonetheless, Martin remarked, “David Hogg is a passionate advocate and we are grateful for his service to the Democratic Party, whether it be in his role as a D.N.C. vice chair or in an outside capacity.”
Hogg is aware of the storm his decision might brew, predicting backlash and a “smear campaign” against him. In an interview with the New York Times, he stated:
In an interview, Mr. Hogg said he understood that he would face blowback for his decision to serve simultaneously as a top official in the party — which is typically focused on electing Democrats over Republicans — and as a leader of an effort to oust current Democratic lawmakers.
“This is going to anger a lot of people,” Mr. Hogg said of his efforts, which he began to brief allies, some lawmakers and party officials on in recent days. He predicted “a smear campaign against me” that would aim to “destroy my reputation and try to force me to stop doing this.”
“People say they want change in the Democratic Party, but really they want change so long as it doesn’t potentially endanger their position of power,” he said. “That’s not actually wanting change. That’s selfishness.”
Hogg’s decision to dive into primary politics threatens to cause upheaval within the Democratic National Committee. A recent private meeting revealed a “neutrality policy” designed to ensure top officers’ impartiality. This pledge was signed by all officers, except Hogg, despite being asked to maintain neutrality both in their D.N.C. roles and personal capacities.
