Democrats elect Ken Martin as chairman to rebuild the demoralized party
The Democratic National Committee elected Ken Martin as its new chairman on Saturday, February 1, 2025.
WASHINGTON – David Hogg, who was at the centre of the debate over the main efforts of Congress’ incumbents, is leaving the Democratic National Committee after choosing not to run for reelection as vice-chairman.
In April, Hogg, 25, announced that his group leader we deserve would be pouring $20 million to fund young progressive candidates challenging the incumbent in the Safe Blue District. However, DNC Chairman Ken Martin urged officers to remain neutral in the primary, giving Hogg the ultimate to step down from the committee or divorce his organization.
On June 11, the DNC voted to redo the election in which Hogg and Pennsylvania Assemblyman Malcolm Kenyatta served as vice-chairman over a procedural battle. However, Hogg writes to X that he will never run for vice-chairman again, and that his focus is on the leaders we deserve.
“We must change the culture of the party that brought us here. If something teaches us something, it teaches us that the comfortable people, especially the powerful and comfortable people, will not change,” he writes.
Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, became prominent for his participation in protests and marching against gun violence.
“I was caught up in this role to play a positive role in creating the changes that the parties need. It is clear that there is a fundamental disagreement about the role of the Vice-Chairman, and it is okay to have a disagreement.
Martin wrote in a statement that he still believes Hogg is a “strong voice for this party,” but he respects Hogg’s decision to step back from the committee.
Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat, the youngest member of the Congress, wrote that he has known Hogg for many years and that Hogg cares about lifting up young candidates. “He was there when I hardly believed in my campaign and I know he’ll continue to do a good job,” Frost said.
