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Trying to Explain the DNC VP Mess [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-05-14

For those that love drama, the recent decision of the DNC Credentials Committee to nullify the third ballot of the VP election to the executive committee has been a godsend. It fits into so many tropes that are popular on this site — that the DNC is incompetent (hard to argue that one in this case, to be honest), that the DNC is corrupt, that the DNC is trying to stifle progressive voices, or that this is a complicated scheme to get rid of the one member of the DNC who is prepared to revitalize that party and get rid of the deadwood. Comments have certainly leant into the conspiracy side of things on this site, and in parts of social media.

It’s important, then, to know the facts and to understand how this decision came to be made.

First, a hat tip to [email protected] She actually listened the the committee deliberations that took place so is better placed than anyone to know what the issues are and what will happen going forward.

In February, elections were held to select new DNC executive officers. Ken Martin secured election as President. Rayna Walters Martin secured election as Vice Chair for Civic Election. These elections went forward without issue.

Three Vice Chairs posts were also open. The rules require candidates receive at least 201 votes in order to secure election. After the first ballot, none of the candidates secured 201 votes so they went to a second ballot. The person with the lowest vote was taken off the ballot, others saw their vote totals and decided to drop out.

On the second ballot, Artie Blanco secured over 201 votes and acquired the first vice chair position. No others secured 201 votes so they moved onto the next ballot. On the third ballot, all five remaining candidates, three women (Jeanna Repass, Kaylyn Free, and Shasti Conrad) and two men (Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg), appeared on one ballot with both Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg securing the requisite 201 votes. They were declared the winners of the two remaining positions and almost everyone went home happy.

The one person that didn’t leave happy was Kaylyn Free. She asserted that the ballot did not follow the proper rules and that this disadvantaged the three female candidates. She said there should have been two ballots, one with the names of the two men and another with the names of the four remaining candidates. On February 28, she entered a complaint.

Over the next six weeks, Kaylyn Free made written representation to the Committee, and both Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg were given thirty days subsequent to this to provide representations of their own.

DNC rules require that there be, as much as possible, gender equality in the election of officers. Because Artie Blanco, a woman, won election first, the next ballot should have only contained the names of Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg to ensure a male vice chair.

In the election, Malcolm Kenyatta secured 298 votes and David Hogg 214. If we assume that a similar result would have occurred had a ballot with only Kenyatta’s and Hogg’s names on it been used, Malcolm Kenyatta would have secured the second vice chair position. For the third vice chair position, a fourth ballot would have taken place with the names of the four remaining candidates in place. That would be David Hogg, Jeanna Repass, Kaylyn Free, and Shasti Conrad. If none of them had gotten 201 votes, another ballot would have taken place.

Kaylyn Free’s complaint was heard by the Credentials Committee on Saturday. The decision was to recommend that the DNC void the third ballot and redo the election. The vote was 13-2 (www.ntd.com/...) to redo the election. As the recommendation has not been finalized, Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg remain their VP positions. Artie Blanco’s seat is secured.

If the recommendation is accepted, new elections will be held, likely in August. The first ballot will have only Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg’s names on it, and a second with the four remaining candidates’ (if they still wish to run) names on the ballot will follow.

So, even after all of this, it is possible that the redone election results in both Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg retaining their positions.

Now, yes the process seems convoluted and complicated. But like it or not, the election was not conducted according to the rules and the DNC is making the right choice to redo the election.

To be sure, neither Malcolm Kenyatta or David Hogg, like the decision. They both presented briefs to the Credentials Committee requesting that the election stand. In a series of posts on BlueSky, Kenyatta stated that he disagreed with the decision. He called it a “slap in my face” that left him frustrated, especially given the work he’s put in, but ultimately accepts the decision. “The credentials committee believed, as they stated, that they are remedying a procedural flaw. But doing so the way they did, is a slap in my face. I'm frustrated, but I'll be ok." www.msn.com/...

David Hogg took a different tack. In his view, this decision was all about him. “Today, the DNC took its first steps to remove me from my position as Vice Chair At-Large."www.msn.com/... David Hogg believes that the DNC wants to get rid of him solely because of his attack on what he sees as the status quo and his announcement, that he will use his PAC Leaders We Deserve to primary House members he believes are not meeting the moment. “While this vote was based on how the DNC conducted its officers' elections, which I had nothing to do with, it is also impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote."

Kenyatta, who had been silent in regards to David Hogg’s intentions regarding primarying House Democrats using PAC money, was more direct in interviews over the last few days.

x A DNC panel is moving forward with an effort to oust David Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta as party vice chairs, which comes as Hogg faces a separate intraparty battle over his push to primary some Democratic politicians.



“Is the DNC better with or without David in it?” @majorCBS asks… pic.twitter.com/2j7NFg3RC0 — CBS News (@CBSNews) May 14, 2025

Added into the mix is the desire of Ken Martin to ensure DNC neutrality. Note that this has nothing to do with the DSCC or the DCCC, it applies only to elected members of the DNC. Ken Martin, in a BlueSky post, contended that a neutrality pledge, “ensures that candidates, and the millions of supporters behind them, can participate in our primary process without interference from party leadership. It means no thumb on the scale, no backroom deals, no favoritism.” He noted that he had instituted a similar neutrality pledge when he ran the Minnesota DFL and that this represents a continuation of his beliefs on this issue. Given complaints that the DNC were not neutral during prior election years, it is surprising that so many are angry that a specific neutrality pledge is being pushed by Ken Martin today.

You can follow the entire thread here.

x In recent weeks, there's been renewed conversation about my longstanding support for a neutrality pledge within the Democratic National Committee. Here’s a 🧵 on why the Democratic Party must stay neutral in primaries. — Ken Martin (@kenmartin.bsky.social) 2025-05-10T16:54:50.655Z

I do not believe this decision has anything to do with David Hogg. Ken Martin has already said that he wants a neutrality pledge within the Democratic National Committee. If that neutrality pledge is approved, David Hogg will need to make a choice regarding staying as VP or staying with Leaders We Deserve.

The other thing to remember is that regardless of whether or not David Hogg is on the DNC executive, if he wants to use his PAC to finance primaries against Democrats, there is nothing to stop him from doing so. And, crucially, there has been no demand from Ken Martin to stop.

There is no need for the DNC to go through this route just to remove David Hogg. In fact, relying on a process that could result in David Hogg being elected and remaining on the Committee seems to be a poorly thought through and not particularly cunning plan.

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