David Hogg’s efforts to transform the Democratic Party have encountered some challenges, as reported by The Washington Post. Hogg is involved with We Are The Leaders We Deserve, an organization he co-founded, which plans to support Irene Singh in an upcoming special election to fill the late Democratic Rep. Jerry Connolly’s seat. They promised a significant financial backing of $400,000 to aid Singh. However, it appears that several Democrats have pulled back from their financial pledges, leading to disappointment among party members.
One anonymous member expressed shock at the developments, noting a failure to maintain financial commitments. The Democrats recently faced a substantial loss in the special election, where they trailed by 45 percentage points.
Hogg, who was previously the vice-chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), was ousted in June after facing backlash for his plans to invest heavily in primaries against senior Democrats, which some viewed as “ineffective.” New York Senator James Scorfes pointed out that Hogg’s focus seemed more about self-promotion than what the party needs at this moment.
Despite the concerns, Kenneth Pennington, a key figure in Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, believes that Hogg’s group is making a smart move by trying to elect young leaders. He emphasized that Hogg’s increasing visibility is leading to successful grassroots fundraising.
The organization’s goal is to support progressive candidates nationwide to counter far-right agendas. Currently, the group lists only a few candidates on its website who won campaigns in 2024.
As for the new Democratic candidates, Hogg emphasized that their mission is not merely about financial backing but also about fostering grassroots movements. He expressed intentions to collaborate with multiple Democratic candidates in the upcoming 2026 elections.
This comes amid a broader call within the party for new leadership, as a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 62% of Democrats feel it’s time for a generational change among party leaders. Tensions also remain as Hogg had a rocky relationship with DNC Chairman Ken Martin during his brief tenure as a sub-chair.
The organization has yet to respond to media inquiries regarding these developments.
