‘I don't know if I want to do this anymore': leaked audio highlights turmoil among Dems
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairperson Ken Martin may have some second thoughts about keeping his job.
In a snippet of audio from a leaked Zoom call published by Politico on June 8, Martin told other DNC officers that he was unsure about his ability to lead the party due to infighting that was sparked by the national party's vice chairperson, David Hogg.
'I'll be very honest with you, for the first time in my 100 days on this job … the other night I said to myself for the first time, I don't know if I wanna do this anymore,' he said in the meeting.
In the recording of the call, Martin expressed frustration with Hogg.
The 25-year-old, who is also a survivor of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting, has created a 'firestorm' among party loyalists by launching a $20 million effort that challenges incumbent U.S. House Democrats in primaries, according to Politico.
'No one knows who the hell I am, right? I'm trying to get my sea legs underneath of me and actually develop any amount of credibility so I can go out there and raise the money and do the job I need to put ourselves in a position to win,' Martin said to Hogg. 'And again, I don't think you intended this, but you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to. So it's really frustrating.'
Five of the nine DNC leaders on the call accused Hogg, or people associated with him, of leaking the audio, according to statements and interviews obtained by the Washington Post.
However, the sources did not provide evidence for their claims, the newspaper reported. Hogg has also denied leaking the audio, according to the Post.
Martin has vowed to stay on as chairman following the audio leak, according to Politico.
'I'm not going anywhere. I took this job to fight Republicans, not Democrats,' Martin said. 'As I said when I was elected, our fight is not within the Democratic Party, our fight is and has to be solely focused on Donald Trump and the disastrous Republican agenda. That's the work that I will continue to do every day.'
Hogg's $20 million campaign would target Democrats who are 'ineffective, asleep-at-the-wheel,' Politico previously reported.
The 25-year-old stated that the challenges would only occur in safe Democratic districts and would not target members solely based on their age, according to the outlet.
'We have a culture of seniority politics that has created a litmus test of who deserves to be here,' Hogg said. 'We need people, regardless of their age, that are here to fight.'
Party members, however, are uneasy with Hogg's campaign, with many saying party leaders should not take sides in primaries, according to Politico.
Martin himself has urged Hogg to remain neutral, the outlet reads.
'Party officers have one job: to be fair stewards of a process that invites every Democrat to the table — regardless of personal views or allegiances,' Martin said.
The turmoil among DNC members comes as the party continues to find its footing after losing elections for the presidency, House, and Senate in 2024.
A June 1 CNN poll found that just 16% of respondents say the Democratic Party is best described as a party with strong leaders.
In comparison, 40% of respondents said that definition fits the Republican Party best, while 43% said neither party is best described as a party with strong leaders.
The surveys were conducted between May 5 and May 26 with a sample size of 2,539 U.S. adults and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7%
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