If you think the Democratic Party’s leadership was in shambles after the fallout of former President Joe Biden being forced out of the 2024 presidential election, and former Vice President Kamala Harris’ trouncing in the 2024 election, you haven’t seen anything yet!
As the party continues to reel from its landslide loss in 2024, and struggles to find its identity with younger voters, the Democratic Party’s two leaders are now openly fighting with each other.
The tension is so bad, it’s driving party leaders to tears and could cause one to quit his top spot.
According to explosive audio footage initially obtained by POLITICO, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told party leaders in a recent private conversation that he’s unsure about his ability to lead the party because of infighting created by Vice Chair 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 a May 15 Zoom meeting of DNC officers.
The audio of that call can be heard here —
an emotional Martin describes being deeply frustrated by the fallout over Hogg, who has ignited a firestorm in the party by vowing to spend $20 million in safe-blue primaries to oust incumbent Democrats he believes are ineffective. Martin paused twice while appearing to choke up.
The intraparty feud, Martin said on the recording, is making it more difficult for the party to do its work — and had ruined his ability to demonstrate leadership.
“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 to put ourselves in a position to win,” Martin said, addressing 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.”
It should be noted that the nearly two-minute clip does not include the entire conversation, including how Hogg and others may have responded to Martin.
“I took this job to fight Republicans, not Democrats,” he added.
“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.”
Asked for comment, party leaders rallied behind Martin, expressing confidence in his leadership.
In a statement, DNC Associate Chair Shasti Conrad, who attended the Zoom meeting and was briefly mentioned on it, said Martin “showed vulnerability in a private conversation” and “stood up” for the Democratic Party.
“He shows up with authenticity. Always,” she said. “That’s what you’ll hear on the tape.”
Jane Kleeb, president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, was on the call and said she was “proud of” Martin and the work the party is doing. Kenyatta, who was also at the meeting, similarly stood by Martin: “Breaking news: a human being had a frustrating day at work. That’s all Ken expressed on that call.”
Hogg, 25, did not respond to a request for comment.