Gun control activist and March for Our Lives organizer David Hogg revealed on Monday that he has entered the running for vice-chair of the the Democratic National Committee (DNC), aiming to revitalize the party’s connection with young voters. Hogg, who rose to national prominence after the Parkland school shooting in 2018, is campaigning for a more inclusive and accountable Democratic Party that prioritizes young voices over the established consulting class.
“I think this role is a great way of, for one, bringing newer voices into the Democratic Party,” Hogg, 24, told ABC News. “I just want to be one of several of those voices to help represent young people and also, more than anything, make sure that we’re standing up to the consulting class that increasingly the Democratic Party is representing instead of the working class.”
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“We need to realize that we are increasingly the party of sycophants,” he continued. “We are just surrounding ourselves with people who tell us what we want to hear instead of what instead of what we need to hear, we’re increasingly surrounding ourselves with paid political consultants that no that are letting what donors say to them guide their talking points.”
At 24, Hogg is significantly younger than all the other candidates for DNC leadership, marking a stark contrast with the “new generation of leadership” 60-year-old Vice Presdient Kamala Harris promised during her campaign.
Hogg further expressed frustration with the party’s dismissive attitude towards concerns from younger members, particularly regarding messaging and engagement strategies, citing recent electoral losses and a shift of youth support towards Republicans.
Hogg’s campaign reflects a broader desire for change within the DNC, as he contends that the party must directly address the issues affecting young voters, rather than taking their support for granted.
“Frankly, we need to focus on building up our young people in the party and not in a way that is patting us on the head and just taking our votes for granted, but really giving us power in the party,” he told The Hill.
The DNC is led by a chair, five vice chairs (three general vice chairperson roles, one vice chairperson for civic engagement and voter participation, and one reserved for the president of the Association of State Democratic Committees), a treasurer, a secretary, and a national finance chair.
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