Democrats in Disarray: DNC Votes to Oust David Hogg Amid Power Struggles and Internal Backlash
The Democratic Party’s internal rift widened this week as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) took the extraordinary step of voting to nullify its earlier election of David Hogg as vice chair — a move that signals mounting discontent and division at the top levels of the party.
The decision, made Monday, follows months of growing unrest inside the DNC, though party officials attempted to frame the removal as a mere “procedural correction.” According to Fox News, the action stems from a challenge filed in February, which alleged that both Hogg and another official were elected in violation of parliamentary rules. A new vote is reportedly being planned to officially decide Hogg’s fate later this year.
But Hogg himself isn’t buying the procedural excuse.
“[It’s] impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote,” he said in a statement, as reported by Politico. “The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort.”
Alongside Hogg, Pennsylvania State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta was also stripped of his DNC vice chair role. But according to Christine Pelosi, daughter of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a member of the DNC credentials committee, the shake-up wasn’t personal.
“First, I want to say clearly and explicitly that this decision has nothing to do with the service of any DNC officer, especially [Hogg] or [Kenyatta]. This is about a violation of parliamentary procedure that was raised in a challenge filed back in February by another candidate for Vice Chair,” Pelosi said.
“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,” she added. “We’ll move fast to get this resolved. I have total faith in our DNC members to review this issue and vote their conscience.”
Behind the scenes, however, Hogg has become a thorn in the side of Democratic leadership. The young left-wing activist recently launched a $20 million campaign to unseat long-time Democratic incumbents in deep-blue districts — a move that has drawn fire from party veterans who see it as a misguided civil war at a time when Democrats are struggling to compete with the strong, unified leadership of President Donald Trump.
Hogg recently clashed with veteran strategist James Carville during an appearance on journalist Tara Palmeri’s podcast. Carville blasted Hogg’s intra-party insurgency as “abominable” and “jacka–ery of the highest level,” accusing him of distracting from the real battle against the GOP.
Hogg stood his ground, defending his mission as a dual effort: to challenge stale leadership and help Democrats win.
“It’s not to win an election in Queens which you don’t ever run against a Republican. It’s to help Democrats win elections,” Hogg argued.
Even Carville seemed to backtrack somewhat, later posting on social media that the DNC “needs him,” crediting Hogg’s willingness to “fight” for the party — though critics say the infighting is tearing Democrats apart at a critical time.
Meanwhile, dissatisfaction continues to grow in the backyard of another progressive icon, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). According to a New York Post report, constituents in Queens and the Bronx are increasingly fed up with what they describe as a self-serving, absentee representative who has prioritized media clout over neighborhood needs.
Frustrated locals point to poor service from Ocasio-Cortez’s district offices, despite a generous $1.9 million taxpayer-funded budget. One office reportedly operates only a single weekday per week, while the other is closed on Fridays. Constituents say phones go unanswered, and basic services now require an appointment just to be heard.
Her once-regular town halls have become rare, and when they are held, the congresswoman often phones in remotely—if she attends at all.
“This woman has done nothing for the community she was once again elected to serve. Now she can’t be a Congresswoman because she’s too busy?” said Lauro Vazquez of Woodside, Queens, in comments to the Post.
With internal chaos, disillusioned voters, and a widening ideological divide, the Democratic Party appears more focused on its own power struggles than on serving the people it claims to represent—leaving the door wide open for President Trump and conservatives to continue winning where Democrats are floundering.