Politics
NEW: DNC Votes To Nullify David Hogg’s Vice Chair Election
David Hogg, the 25-year-old progressive gun control activist, will not be competing in the new Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair elections after the body opted to nullify the previous elections that were held back in February.
After three days of voting, the DNC opted Wednesday to uphold the Credentials Committee’s resolution proposed by longtime Democratic Party activist Kalyn Free to host a re-election for two vice-chair positions, which were currently held by Hogg and Malcom Kenyatta. Free argued that the previous election failed to honor the DNC’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies for electing party officers.
In total, 75 percent of those who cast a ballot voted in favor of upholding the motion while 25 percent voted against. 89 percent of eligible DNC members voted in the race.
“The DNC will immediately move to administer new ballots for the final two Vice Chair positions, one of which must be held by a male and one of which may be held by a candidate of any gender,” said the DNC’s Deputy Press Secretary Nina Raneses. “The election for the male Vice Chair position will commence tomorrow morning at 10:00AM ET.”
With Hogg’s withdrawal, Kenyatta will remain as the lone male candidate up for the position.
State Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta speaking with the press. Governor Tom Wolf today joined state lawmakers to remind communities and organizations that $24 million in state funding is available to address community violence. Philadelphia, PA – September 23, 2021
Hogg’s departure comes after weeks of infighting sparked by the progressive activist’s pledge to out $20 million towards primary challenges against sitting Democrat lawmakers who are not sufficiently progressive. Hogg claimed that establishment Democrats are “asleep at the wheel” in terms of righting the ship after former Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat.
DNC Chair Ken Martin publicly admonished Hogg over the decision and introduced a rule change that would bar DNC officers from endorsing candidates in primary contests.
Earlier this week, Politico obtained audio from a May 15 Zoom meeting in which Martin criticized Hogg for sabotaging his leadership and suggested he may step down if infighting continues.
“No one knows who the hell I am, right? I’m trying to get my sea legs underneath of me and actually develop any amount of credibility so I can go out there and raise the money and do the job I need to to put ourselves in a position to win,” Martin said in the recording, which was obtained by Politico.“I don’t think you intended this,” Martin told Hogg. “But you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to. So it’s really frustrating.”
“I’ll be very honest with you, for the first time in my 100 days on this job… the other night I said to myself for the first time, I don’t know if I wanna do this anymore,” Martin said in the meeting that was attended by 10 DNC officers, according to Politico.
