The Democratic National Committee isn’t just facing turbulence—it’s teetering on the edge of internal collapse. Leaked audio from a recent Zoom call, obtained by Politico, has exposed a blistering power struggle between newly-elected DNC Chair Ken Martin and Vice Chair David Hogg, revealing a party leadership mired in infighting just months after taking office.
Martin, a longtime Democratic operative and former Minnesota party chair, took the reins in February with a clear mandate: stabilize the DNC, reverse slipping support among key demographics like young voters and working-class men, and sharpen the party’s strategy heading into 2026. But what he got instead was a very public feud with Hogg, a progressive firebrand best known for his gun control activism, who is now pushing the party to the far left—with no intention of slowing down.
According to the leaked May 15 call, Martin confessed to DNC officers that the drama has undercut his leadership so severely that he’s even considered stepping down. “I don’t know if I wanna do this anymore,” he said in a moment of raw honesty, citing the inability to gain traction while Hogg aggressively undermines party cohesion.
The main source of tension? Hogg’s vow to use DNC funds to target moderate Democrats in primary races—a move that Martin and party elders see as a disastrous misstep. In response, Martin has pushed for a rule change that would bar DNC officers from endorsing in primaries, a proposal that would effectively neuter Hogg’s influence if adopted. That measure, along with a challenge to Hogg’s election based on alleged procedural errors, is set to go to a vote soon.
This isn’t just a battle over internal rules—it’s a showdown over the soul of the Democratic Party. On one side, Martin and the traditional guard want a disciplined machine focused on retaking the House and defeating Trump. On the other, Hogg and his progressive allies want a movement-driven DNC that enforces ideological purity—even at the cost of party unity.
The stakes are high, and Martin made it clear in the audio: “You essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to.”
Meanwhile, Hogg remains defiant. After the vote to challenge his legitimacy, he framed the opposition as retaliation for his reform efforts, saying the party is targeting him because he’s refusing to toe the line. “The DNC has pledged to remove me,” he said, “and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort.”
Fellow Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta—also under fire—offered a defense of Martin’s leaked comments, dismissing the incident as a mere “frustrating day at work.” But the tone of the call and the deepening division suggest this is far more than a bad day—it’s a potential fracture at the top of a party already grappling with sinking poll numbers and internal disillusionment.
Martin has since tried to walk it back: “I’m not going anywhere,” he told Politico. But the damage may already be done. The fight within the DNC is no longer a quiet disagreement—it’s a headline-grabbing feud that threatens to consume the very leadership tasked with holding the party together.
