The internal strife tearing apart the Democrats burst into public view this week after audio leaked from a closed-door DNC meeting revealed Chair Ken Martin emotionally confronting Vice Chair David Hogg for sabotaging party unity and undermining leadership.
An emotional Martin broke down during the confrontation, accusing Hogg of having “destroyed” his career by ruining his chance to lead the DNC.
According to POLITICO, the May 15 Zoom call between DNC officers captured Martin on the verge of resignation as he vented his growing frustration with Hogg’s behavior.
He was particularly upset by the 24-year-old activist’s plan to bankroll far-left challengers against incumbent Democrats using his political organization, Leaders We Deserve.
“For the first time … I said to myself, I don’t know if I wanna do this anymore,” Martin confessed, his voice breaking.
Martin, who has only held the chairmanship for a few months, told colleagues that Hogg’s actions had destroyed his credibility as a leader and made it virtually impossible for him to carry out a national strategy ahead of the critical 2026 midterms.
Hogg — a media darling and Parkland shooting survivor turned radical political operative — has made it clear he intends to use his platform and influence to reshape the party in the image of the hard Left.
His organization has pledged to spend millions of dollars to primary older, moderate Democrats in favor of younger, more “progressive” candidates.
While that may energize the activist base, it’s enraging longtime party operatives and donors who see it as a direct threat to electoral success.
“No one knows who the hell I am … I’m trying to get my sea legs,” Martin said to Hogg on the call.
“You essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to.”
The deepening split is exactly what Republican strategists have long predicted: a Democratic civil war between the establishment and radical activists, between those focused on beating President Donald Trump and those intent on ideological purity, even at the expense of unity and electability.
It’s not just Martin who’s furious, however.
Democrat legend James Carville, never one to mince words, called Hogg a “contemptible little twerp,” even suggesting donors should consider suing Hogg for what they view as sabotage of the DNC’s mission — while he’s still drawing a paycheck from the very party he’s attacking.
Despite the dramatic moment, Martin insists he’s staying put.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, clarifying that his fight is with Republicans, not his own party.
He continued by stressing that Hogg’s internal disruption is making that goal increasingly difficult.
LISTEN:
Hogg has not responded publicly to the confrontation.
But his actions speak volumes.
He’s part of a broader movement on the Left that’s increasingly hostile to compromise, dismissive of moderates, and obsessed with identity politics.
This stance may excite social media, but it has repeatedly failed to resonate with middle America.
With the 2026 midterms looming, Democrats are heading into battle without a clear leader, fractured by competing visions for their party’s future.
Meanwhile, Republicans remain laser-focused on policy, border security, and voter mobilization.
The DNC’s dirty laundry has now been aired, and voters are watching.
