DNC moves toward nullifying election of David Hogg, Malcolm Kenyatta as vice chairs

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has taken a first step toward possibly requiring a new election for two of its vice chairs, including David Hogg, who has stirred controversy with his call for primary challenges to longtime incumbents in safe seats. 

The DNC’s Credentials Committee voted Monday to nullify the results of the February election in which Hogg and Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta won two of the three vice chair positions. The vote followed a procedural complaint that one of the losing candidates made challenging the way the election was determined.

But internal strife has dominated much of the past month of Hogg’s DNC tenure. Hogg’s group, Leaders We Deserve, launched a $20 million effort in mid-April to advance more than a dozen primary challenges against Democratic members of Congress to bring in a new generation to serve.

He’s said sitting members in competitive districts and those in safe districts who have been effective at standing up to President Trump would not be targeted, but his move has still caused plenty of backlash within the party. 

DNC Chair Ken Martin said following Hogg’s announcement that no DNC officer should try to influence a primary. 

But party leaders have said the vote Monday was about the procedural issue, not other considerations. 

Christine Pelosi, the daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a member of the Credentials Committee, said in a post on the social platform X that the first vice chair, Artie Blanco, was elected with a clear majority, but Kenyatta and Hogg were elected on a combined ballot. 

One of the losing candidates, Kalyn Free, issued a complaint alleging conducting the election on a combined ballot violated the DNC’s rules.

The younger Pelosi said she called for upholding the election results but addressing the issue for future elections, but her proposal fell short of a majority vote of the committee, which eventually voted to recommend the DNC hold new ballots for Hogg and Kenyatta’s vice chair positions.

The full membership of the DNC will need to vote on the proposal for a new election to be held.

“Meanwhile, Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg continue to serve as DNC Vice Chairs,” Pelosi said. “And 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.” 

Hogg denounced the move in a statement, saying the DNC had taken its first steps to remove him from his position.

“While this vote was based on how the DNC conducting its officers’ elections, which I had nothing to do with, it is also impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote,” he wrote.

Hogg added that the DNC made clear its plans to remove him from his position in declaring its “neutrality” stance in primaries, but he argued party committees such as the Senate and House Democrats’ campaign arms regularly get involved in primaries. 

“The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort,” he said. 

Kenyatta posted on X that he disagreed with the ruling but respects the committee’s decision. But he challenged the idea it is about Hogg, noting the challenge from Free was brought well before the 25-year-old — who entered the spotlight as a survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting — announced his primary plan. 

“The credentials committee believed, as they stated, that they are remedying a procedural flaw. But doing so the way they did, is a slap in my face. I’m frustrated, but I’ll be ok,” Kenyatta wrote in the post.

“However any story about this, that neatly places this into a narrative about David Hogg is wrong,” he continued. “I worked my a‑‑ off to get this role and have done the job every day since I’ve held it.” 

Kenyatta also made a pointed comment at Hogg, arguing he wants the story to be about him. 

“This story is complex and I’m frustrated — but it’s not about @davidhogg111. Even though he clearly wants it to be,” he said.

The DNC said in a release that the committee found their elections violated parliamentary procedure, but both Hogg and Kenyatta would be eligible to run again for their positions. A few other candidates, including Free, would also be eligible.

“I am disappointed to learn that before I became Chair, there was a procedural error in the February Vice Chair 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 said in a statement.

“I thank all of our officers for their service, including Vice Chairs Kenyatta and Hogg, and look forward to continuing to work with them in their officer posts as this matter is resolved,” he added.

Updated at 11:24 a.m. EDT.