A Democratic National Committee panel voted Monday to void the election of David Hogg as vice chair after a complaint that his election violated gender parity rules.
The DNC credentials panel voted 13-2 to invalidate the elections of Hogg and Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta because of a complaint that women had been discriminated against during the vote. In response, Hogg suggested that the DNC was retaliating against him based on his calls to primary members of his own party.
“Today, the DNC took its first steps to remove me from my position as Vice Chair At-Large. While this vote was based on how the DNC conducted 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,” Hogg said.
“I ran to be DNC Vice Chair to help make the Democratic Party better, not to defend an indefensible status quo that has caused voters in almost every demographic group to move away from us,” he added. “The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort.”
Credential panel member Christine Pelosi, daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, claimed that the vote had nothing to do with Hogg’s comments, only procedural violations. That position was echoed by Kenyatta, who said that any reporter wanting to make the story about Hogg was “full of s***.”
“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 posted on X. “However any story about this, that neatly places this into a narrative about David Hogg is wrong. I worked my ass off to get this role and have done the job every day since I’ve held it.”
The decision came after vice chair candidate Kalyn Free argued that the February vote resulting in Hogg’s and Keynatta’s election had “discriminated against three women of color candidates.” After a tied committee vote on the issue in February, further debate resulted in a final vote to void the election based on Free’s complaint. Hogg and Kenyatta will continue to be vice chairs until a full vote of the DNC.
Hogg has drawn the ire of top Democratic officials after he promised to spend $20 million through his Leaders We Deserve organization in primary challenges against Democrats he believes are failing. DNC Chair Ken Martin said that he was fine if Hogg wanted to organize primary challenges, but not as a member of the DNC.
“As I’ve said to him, ‘If you want to challenge incumbents, you’re more than free to do that, but just not as an officer of the DNC, because our job is to be neutral arbiters. We can’t be both the referee and also the player at the same time. You have to make a decision,” he said.
