A fight between the old guard and the new is brewing at the Democratic National Committee.
DNC Vice Chair David Hogg last week announced that he would go after “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democratic lawmakers with his organization Leaders We Deserve by funneling $20 million in an effort to primary safe House Democrats.
But DNC Chair Ken Martin plans to force Mr. Hogg to decide between the party or the organization he co-founded.
Mr. Martin on a press call Thursday pushed a neutrality pledge for DNC officers that would require higher-ups in the organization, like Mr. Hogg, to remain neutral during primary elections.
“No DNC officer should ever attempt to influence the outcome of a primary election whether on behalf of an incumbent or a challenger,” Mr. Martin said.
“While certainly I understand what he’s trying to do, as I’ve said to him — if you want to challenge incumbents, you’re free to do that, just not as an officer of the DNC,” he continued.
The Washington Times reached out to Mr. Hogg for comment.
Mr. Martin’s proposed rule change could be voted on when the DNC meets in August.
“I am a huge fan of David Hogg, and I’m glad he’s a part of our officer corps, but it’s important for us to maintain the trust that we have built with Democratic voters and to keep our thumb off the scale as party officers,” Mr. Martin said.
Mr. Martin, who accumulated an undefeated election record during his time in Minnesota politics, was elected this year to chair the DNC at a crucial juncture for the Democratic Party, which is still reeling from stunning losses in November that have left the party rudderless.
Part of finding solid direction comes in the form of the DNC’s “Organize Everywhere, Win Everywhere” plan. Mr. Martin announced on the call that the DNC will make a $1 million investment into state parties as part of that plan, which includes a monthly payment of $17,500. Red states will see a higher sum of $22,500.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hogg, a 25-year-old survivor of a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, who became a gun safety activist, wants to shake up the Democrats.
Leaders We Deserve’s $20 million gambit isn’t aimed at House Democrats facing tough reelection bids, known as Frontline Members, Mr. Hogg told CBS. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced last month that 26 Democratic incumbents would be part of their Frontline program.
Mr. Hogg said some of the $20 million would go to those members in tough races but that the major thrust is to bring younger candidates into the fold to better represent people 25 to 30 years old across the country and to find candidates willing to push back against President Trump.
“People say, ‘Well, David, is this just out with the old and in with the new?’ I would say no, this is out with the ineffective and in with the effective,” Mr. Hogg said. “Because we need members who are ready to meet this moment to fight back against Donald Trump.”
