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Parkland, FL - A survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting and a prominent anti-violence activist has announced their candidacy for a vice chair position within the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
24-year-old David Hogg is focusing his campaign on revitalizing youth engagement with the Democratic Party after a significant shift among young voters toward Republicans in the recent presidential election.
Hogg's announcement comes in response to NBC News exit polling that revealed a notable increase in support for Donald Trump among young voters compared to past Republican candidates, a reversal from the strong youth support President Joe Biden received in 2020.
In his statement, Hogg emphasized the urgent need to reconnect with young voters and address key issues that have driven a divide.
“Moving forward, we must have a renewed focus on our youth outreach in all states and territories to rebuild our coalition after the massive shift to the right among young voters this election,” Hogg said during an interview with Good Morning America.
He also highlighted the Democratic Party’s struggle to address the housing crisis, particularly in blue states, as a critical factor pushing voters toward red states.
“If left unaddressed, [the housing crisis] will spell disaster for us by 2030.”
Hogg first rose to national prominence following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 lives were lost.
In the aftermath, he co-founded March For Our Lives, a gun safety advocacy group credited with helping pass over 250 gun safety laws across the country.
He later founded Leaders We Deserve, an organization dedicated to electing young leaders to public office at both local and national levels.
Hogg's announcement coincides with a leadership shakeup within the DNC.
Current DNC Chair Jaime Harrison recently announced his resignation, leaving a competitive race for leadership positions within the party.
In addition to Hogg's candidacy for vice chair, several candidates have entered the race for DNC chair, including Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Party Chair Ben Wikler, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and New York State Senator James Skoufis.
DNC candidates will participate in forums throughout January, with the committee’s membership set to vote on February 1, 2025.