Democratic Panel Votes to Void Hogg’s DNC Vice Chair Election

Washington, D.C. — The Democratic National Committee’s credentials panel voted Monday to void David Hogg’s election as vice chair of the party. Hogg, a Parkland shooting survivor, previously announced plans to use $20 million to challenge longstanding Democratic House incumbents in upcoming primaries.

“It’s impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote,” Hogg said in a statement following the decision, which was reported by Politico. He added, “The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort.”

The committee determined that procedural violations occurred during the election in February. Additionally, Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta was also voted out as DNC vice chair. Both Hogg and Kenyatta will maintain their positions until the full DNC votes on the proposed removals later this year.

Christine Pelosi, a member of the credentials committee and daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, stated that the vote against Hogg had nothing to do with political motivations. “This decision has nothing to do with the service of any DNC officer, especially Hogg or Kenyatta,” Pelosi said. She added that it was based on a parliamentary procedure violation raised by another candidate.

After the panel rejected Pelosi’s suggestion to uphold the elections, the committee recommended that the DNC hold a redo of the Vice Chair elections with new ballots. Pelosi expressed hope that Hogg would run again, saying, “I think I speak for all of us on the Committee when I say I hope both of these talented individuals put their names on the ballot again.”

DNC Chairman Ken Martin, who has advocated for officers to remain neutral in primaries—which Hogg declined to sign—expressed disappointment over the procedural error in February’s elections. “The Credentials Committee has issued their recommendation, and I trust that the DNC Members will carefully review the Committee’s resolution and resolve this matter fairly,” Martin concluded.

In a recent appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Hogg criticized the Democratic Party’s approach to young men. He noted, “Younger men… would rather vote for somebody who they don’t completely agree with, they don’t feel judged by than somebody who they do agree with… Ultimately, what we have to do here is figure out how to bring people back in and work towards the bigger goal of advancing the future of this country.”