The Democrats in disarray. It’s hard to imagine that they’ll ever fully recover.
And the Democrat Party is on the verge of imploding after this bombshell report was unearthed.
At just 25, David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting and a prominent gun control advocate, is stirring the pot as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. His latest move? A $20 million campaign to unseat long-serving House Democrats in primary elections, a strategy that’s raising eyebrows and tempers across the party.
Hogg, who co-founded the organization Leaders We Deserve in 2023, announced the initiative on Tuesday, the same day he took to X to air his frustrations. “Everyone in our party says they want to start winning again, and they do — but that simply will not be possible with our current set of leaders, too many of which are asleep at the wheel, out-of-touch, and ineffective,” he posted.
While Leaders We Deserve hasn’t named specific targets, the group plans to challenge incumbents in safe Democratic districts, sparking a firestorm of criticism.
A Party Divided
Hogg’s public jab at elected Democrats has put him at odds with party leadership and left loyalists seething. “David Hogg is interested in one thing and one thing only: David Hogg,” a senior Democratic source told the New York Post, accusing him of using his political action committee to “enrich himself” and build a personal brand. “This dude’s got nothing else,” the source fumed. “He is full of you-know-what.”
Another Democratic staffer took a sardonic swipe: “David Hogg is an inspiration. One day, I will be able to teach my kids about him and show that no matter how annoying you are and no matter how much you grift, you too can rise in political power and help a party that just got its a** whupped continue to lose.”
Hogg’s ascent to DNC vice chair in February, alongside Artie Blanco and Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, was already controversial. Early in his tenure, he drew ire for using DNC contact lists to fundraise for Leaders We Deserve, which has paid him over $175,000 in salary since its founding, according to public records. Such actions are rare for high-ranking party officials, as both the DNC and RNC typically remain neutral in primaries.
A Risky Gamble
Many Democrats are optimistic about retaking the House in the 2026 midterms, due to historical trends and slipping poll numbers for President Trump. Hogg’s plan, however, threatens to turn safe primaries into costly battles, diverting resources from competitive races. While he’s vowed to spare Democrats in swing districts to help “us to win the majority,” some fear his strategy could backfire.
Hogg has pushed back against accusations of ageism, telling Politico, “We have a culture of seniority politics that has created a litmus test of who deserves to be here. We need people, regardless of their age, that are here to fight.”
Still, a Democratic strategist questioned the approach: “No one can disagree that we need a new generation of leadership, but I’m not sure that this is the best use of limited resources when Democrats can make significant headways down-ballot.”
Defying Party Norms
Last month, DNC leadership reportedly urged officials to sign a “neutrality policy” to maintain impartiality in primaries. Hogg refused, doubling down on his mission. DNC chairman Ken Martin attempted to smooth tensions, stating, “In order to ensure we are as effective as possible at electing Democrats to office, it is the DNC’s longstanding position that primary voters — not the national party — determine their Democratic candidates for the general election.” He added, “David Hogg is a passionate advocate and we are grateful for his service to the Democratic Party.”
A New Wave of Challengers
Hogg’s campaign aligns with a growing trend of younger Democrats challenging entrenched incumbents. In Illinois, influencer and former Media Matters staffer Kat Abughazaleh is taking on Rep. Jan Schakowsky, whose plans for a 15th term remain unclear.
In San Francisco, Saikat Chakrabarti, former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is running against former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Curiously, Hogg’s team has praised both Pelosi and Schakowsky as “fighters who are delivering,” raising questions about the consistency of their targeting.
As Hogg presses forward, his high-stakes gamble could either reshape the Democratic Party or deepen its divisions. So far, it’s looking like the latter.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
