David Hogg, a well-known gun control activist and outspoken progressive, has been elected as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), cementing his position as a rising figure in Democratic politics.
At just 24 years old, Hogg’s appointment marks a generational shift in party leadership and gives him a level of institutional influence that his activism alone had never afforded him.
Hogg first gained national attention in 2018 as a survivor of the tragic Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.
In the aftermath, he became one of the most vocal advocates for stricter gun control laws, co-founding the March For Our Lives movement.
While his activism garnered significant media attention, it has yet to produce the sweeping legislative changes he and his allies have sought, particularly in overturning or significantly restricting Second Amendment rights.
Beyond his gun control advocacy, Hogg has taken strong stances on other political issues, often pushing for positions that many on the right view as extreme.
Republican strategist Steve Guest resurfaced several of Hogg’s past statements following his election, highlighting his calls to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), defund the police, and classify the National Rifle Association (NRA) as a terrorist organization.
Hogg has also demonstrated a controversial interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, once arguing that the Second Amendment was solely intended to ensure that states could maintain armed National Guard units—a claim that contradicts longstanding legal interpretations affirming an individual right to bear arms.
He also has 0 knowledge about how the Constitution works. pic.twitter.com/nhX7HDouQz
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 2, 2025
Critics have pointed to this as evidence of his lack of constitutional knowledge despite his Harvard education.
Hogg’s public activism has often translated into ambitious but unsuccessful endeavors. His March For Our Lives protests, while drawing significant media coverage, have not led to major federal gun control legislation. His attempt to boycott Fox News and conservative commentator Laura Ingraham in 2018 ultimately had little impact.
In 2021, he launched Good Pillow, a direct challenge to Mike Lindell’s MyPillow company. Promoted as an ethically sourced alternative, the business venture failed to take off, and Hogg quietly exited the project just months later.
Despite these setbacks, Hogg’s political rise continued. In 2023, he graduated from Harvard University, further solidifying his status as a young leader within progressive circles. His election as a DNC vice chair signals his increasing influence within the Democratic Party and gives him a platform to shape national politics.
After four rounds of voting on Saturday, Hogg secured 215 votes, while Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta won 298 votes, both surpassing the required threshold to become DNC vice chairs.
In his victory speech, Hogg delivered a fiery message, rallying Democrats to take an aggressive stance against Republicans.
“Who’s ready to take the fight to the Republicans and win this thing? Are you guys ready to fight? It’s been a long day, but guess what? We have a long road ahead,” he declared. “Let’s go and kick some ass. Let’s go win our young people back, and let’s stop sending just our thoughts and prayers to address gun violence and do something.”
After Parkland, our country was in a similar moment—where we had a Republican trifecta in Washington, and we as students were told it wasn’t going to be possible for us to create change. But we didn’t listen. We went on the offense, put the Republicans on the defense, and we won.… pic.twitter.com/oJ1SNcqsLh
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) February 2, 2025
Hogg has framed his rise as a continuation of the activism sparked by the Parkland shooting. In a social media post following his election, he reflected on the past six years, noting that young activists in 2018 were told change was impossible under a Republican-controlled Washington.
“But we didn’t listen,” he wrote. “We went on the offense, put the Republicans on the defense, and we won.”
Hogg’s new role within the DNC positions him as a key player in mobilizing younger voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and beyond. While his supporters see him as an energetic leader pushing for progressive policies, critics warn that his history of extreme positions could alienate moderate voters.
His election signals that the Democratic Party is leaning further into youth-driven activism and progressive priorities. Whether Hogg will be able to translate his activist energy into tangible electoral victories remains to be seen.