The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has officially removed 25-year-old activist David Hogg from his position as vice chair after his controversial plan to use party resources to primary incumbent Democratic members of Congress triggered widespread backlash within the party.
The decision, finalized in a virtual vote obtained by Politico, comes just weeks after Hogg announced plans to direct an estimated $20 million toward campaigns to replace older Democratic lawmakers in deep-blue districts with younger, more progressive challengers. The move, while praised by some within the party’s activist wing, enraged DNC officials and incumbents who saw it as divisive and potentially damaging ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Hogg’s ouster marks a rare internal rebuke and a sharp fall for one of the country’s most high-profile youth activists. After the 2018 Parkland school shooting endured by his classmates, Hogg rose to national prominence through his work with March for Our Lives and has since become a key figure in progressive organizing, particularly on gun control and youth mobilization.
While Hogg had not publicly disclosed a full list of targets for his primary efforts, his allies told The Washington Post in April that the effort would focus on safe Democratic seats — specifically avoiding members at risk of losing to Republicans in the general election. But that strategic restraint did little to calm the storm inside the DNC.
According to Politico, party leaders viewed the effort as an unwelcome act of intra-party warfare at a time when Democrats are struggling to maintain unity amid contentious issues like immigration, foreign policy, and generational divides.
Leaked audio from a May 15 Zoom call further illustrated the tensions. DNC Chair Ken Martin, who took the reins of the committee in February, expressed frustration over the controversy and openly questioned whether he wanted to continue leading the party in the wake of the turmoil Hogg had stirred.
“No one knows who the hell I am,” Martin said in the recording. “I’m trying to get my sea legs underneath me … and you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to.”
Martin added that while he didn’t believe Hogg had acted with malicious intent, the decision to launch a high-dollar campaign to unseat fellow Democrats had undermined party cohesion and fundraising efforts — both vital to competing with the GOP in 2026.
The DNC has announced that it will hold a special election to fill the now-vacant male vice chair position from June 12 to June 14, followed by a vote for an additional vice chair from June 15 to June 17.
Hogg, who has not issued a formal public statement, did repost an endorsement for his reelection from Nevada DNC Committeewoman Samantha Crunkilton.
Despite his removal, Hogg is eligible to run again in the upcoming vice chair election.
The DNC’s swift action makes one thing clear: party leaders are prioritizing unity and stability over experimentation — at least for now.
Whether Hogg can rebound from this setback and regain a formal leadership role remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the tensions he exposed won’t dissipate anytime soon.
READ NEXT: David Hogg Blames Violence On Suburban White Women
