David Hogg, the ex-Democratic National Committee official, is finding mixed success in a series of local and House races that represent an early test of his endorsement power in Democratic primaries.
Hogg, spending millions to back younger, insurgent Democrats through his outside group Leaders We Deserve, has placed himself at odds with party leadership as he intervenes in several off-year races, including two special elections for the House and New York City’s mayoral primary.
But while his endorsement of socialist Zohran Mamdani paid off, his preferred choices lost the races for both vacant House seats.
In Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, Hogg-endorsed candidate Deja Foxx lost the Democratic nomination by over 40 points to Adelita Grijalva, the late Rep. Raul Grijalva’s daughter. In Virginia’s 11th District, Leaders We Deserve backed state Del. Irene Shin in the crowded primary to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly. But Shin lost the nomination to James Walkinshaw, who had previously served as Connolly’s chief of staff.
Now, Hogg is looking ahead to a member-on-member primary in Texas, backing Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), the Congressional Progressive Caucus leader, over Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) on Wednesday as the two prepare to duke it out thanks to redistricting in the Lone Star State.
“78-year-old Lloyd Doggett is preparing to light $6 million on fire to box out an incredible next-generation progressive leader,” Hogg told Politico. “He should use his campaign cash to help Democrats flip Texas seats and pass the torch to 36-year-old Greg Casar.”
The Texas race, in particular, reflects the sort of generational divide that has become a rallying cry for Hogg. Leaders We Deserve’s plan to spend $20 million in Democratic primaries didn’t sit well with his DNC colleagues, as he promised to challenge older incumbents he deemed out of touch with the party’s grassroots. Ultimately, he lost his position in party leadership due to an internal DNC election earlier this year.
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) told the Washington Examiner that Hogg’s endorsement brings some level of interest to a primary and can help his preferred candidates, but he downplayed the effect a single organization can have on the outcome of a race.
“I think because of who he is, every single candidate will get some sort of special attention,” Frost said. “The fact of the matter is, a lot of organizations endorse candidates and try to win, and you win some and you lose some. So he’s gonna win some, he’s gonna lose some. I wouldn’t say it’s a grand indictment of him.”
In New York, Mamdani’s win over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was driven by a complicated set of factors, and Leaders We Deserve endorsed the candidate just days before the race.
Many Democratic lawmakers, both centrist and progressive, are not discouraging Hogg’s involvement in the elections.
“Anyone who wants to be involved should be involved. And, you know, he influences with a group of people,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), a former CPC chairwoman, told the Washington Examiner. “I don’t think we should discourage anyone from being engaged. I think that’s a good thing.”
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), chairwoman of the House Democrats’ communications committee, said that Hogg “cares about the future of this country” as she expressed openness to his advocacy.
“If somebody is active and engaged and is a leader, you make the role that you’re going to play,” Dingell told the Washington Examiner.
However, some strategists have warned that Hogg’s efforts are counterproductive for the party and that trying to oust incumbents is a needless risk. Instead, many Democrats want to focus on crafting a campaign message that puts Republicans on defense, largely over their recently passed tax law, instead of fielding divisions within their ranks.
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“I think Democrats should devote every waking hour and every dollar they raise to winning a Democratic House majority in the midterms next year,” Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said.
“If we win control of the House, beat enough Republican incumbents to win control of the House next November, then maybe it’s time to take a look at the composition of the Democratic leaders and the age demographics in the House caucus. But this is not the time. Hogg’s efforts should go on the back burner.”
David Sivak contributed to this report.