By Eliza Collins

David Hogg -- whose plan to unseat sitting lawmakers had caused Democrats heartburn -- won't run again for his post with the Democratic National Committee.

Hogg's decision to step aside follows a vote by DNC members Wednesday to hold another election after allegations of procedural errors marred Hogg and another member's elections.

While vice chairman of the party, Hogg had promised to spend millions to unseat sitting lawmakers who represent safe Democratic districts and install young liberals in their place. The plan earned poor marks from many Democrats, who said a party officer should not be endorsing primary candidates and the money could be better spent on protecting vulnerable incumbents or picking off Republicans.

"Our mission is to make sure that we are getting the Democratic Party into fighting shape," he told The Wall Street Journal in an interview last month. He said he wasn't using any party resources for the effort.

Hogg said Wednesday in a statement announcing the decision that disagreements over his role had become a distraction. He decided not to run again "so the party can focus on what really matters. I need to do this work with Leaders We Deserve, and it is going to remain my number one mission to build the strongest party possible," he said referring to his political-action committee.

The young activist was elected to serve as vice chair of the party earlier this year following a meteoric rise as a young activist. He is a survivor of the 2018 Parkland, Fla., school-shooting massacre. He helped build a national gun-control organization and launched a PAC.

Party leaders said the revote was unrelated to Hogg's intended challenges to incumbents and point out it was initiated before Hogg's pledge. But Hogg had said it was impossible to separate the two. He had initially said he would run again for the role.

"I have no doubt that he will remain an important advocate for Democrats across the map," DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.

Write to Eliza Collins at eliza.collins@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 11, 2025 21:40 ET (01:40 GMT)

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