Former Parkland school mass shooting survivor David Hogg is stepping down as the Democratic Party Vice Chair.
Hogg, 25, says he will not fight to hold onto his leadership role with the DNC and will not run in the "redo elections" to be held over the weekend.
Democrats did not appreciate the freshman party leader's push to target long-serving Democrats in safe congressional seats.
In April Hogg's group, Leaders We Deserve, launched a $20 million effort to primary “out-of-touch, ineffective” House Democrats in safe blue seats.
“It is clear that there is a fundamental disagreement about the role of a Vice Chair — and it’s okay to have disagreements. What isn’t okay is allowing this to remain our focus when there is so much more we need to be focused on,” Hogg said in a statement Wednesday night. “I have decided to not run in this upcoming election so the party can focus on what really matters.”
Wednesday, The Democratic National Committee (DNC) voted 294-99 to nullify the February 2025 elections that appointed Hogg and Pennsylvania state representative Malcolm Kenyatta as vice chairs, citing procedural violations.
Speaking before Mr. Hogg announced his exit, Mr. Kenyatta said, “I don’t want to see David leave the D.N.C. I just want David to be the leader that we deserve.”
The party designates one of the two vacant vice chair slots for a man, according to its bylaws. Mr. Kenyatta is now the only male candidate remaining.
DNC members agreed to move forward with redoing the contest and will now vote over the weekend to replace Hogg and Kenyatta.
“While I continue to believe he is a powerful voice for this party, I respect his decision to step back from his post as Vice Chair,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said of Hogg in a statement.