Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Hogg Roasted Over Using DNC Resources to Raise Funds for His Own Project (and Employer)

Monday, February 24, 2025

Hogg Roasted Over Using DNC Resources to Raise Funds for His Own Project (and Employer)

A few weeks ago, we noted that anti-gun activist David Hogg wanted to be a Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair.  We suggested caution be exercised before the DNC put an impulsive, often ill-informed individual with little real-world experience in such a prominent position, especially considering he would be given direct access to steering Democrat policy and public perception.

The DNC did not heed our warning.

Now, not only has the DNC put an avowed anti-gun activist in a prominent position within the organization—a tacit, if not full-throated, approval of his support for eviscerating the Second Amendment by Democrat leadership—but they have also given Hogg access to private information on likely millions of donors that he is now, reportedly, using for his personal benefit.

According to several media reports, the young gun-ban advocate wasted little time to exploit his newly-acquired access to the DNC database to send out requests for contributions.  At least one request, however, included a link to Leaders We Deserve, a Political Action Committee (PAC) Hogg helped establish in 2023.

A New York Post article notes that such fund raising does not violate DNC rules, but it does appear to have rankled some party officials.

“It’s especially important for all Democratic national officials to focus on raising support for the party and not using their position to raise money for themselves or their personal political PACS,” an unnamed senior Democratic Party official told the Post. “It’s a stunning lack of judgment that is concerning to many people.”

Another unnamed “top Democrat” commented, “David Hogg—talk about living up to your name.  A trough of DNC dollars all for him and he doesn’t seem to give an oink.”  These comments only add to what has already been reported indicating there may be some “buyer’s remorse” over the elevation of Hogg within the party.

The comment about raising “money for themselves” likely stems from what has been reported as Hogg being paid at least $100,000.00 per year by his PAC.  That’s a pretty good salary for someone fresh out of college with virtually no real-world work experience on his resume.  The only discernible skill Hogg seems to have is getting media attention, so perhaps that is what he is paid for.

In fact, a quick glance at the Press section of his PAC’s website shows virtually nothing other than articles promoting Hogg, so maybe he’s just a PR resource.  If there were articles promoting specific candidates, they were overshadowed by the attention focused on Hogg (a strange strategy for a PAC that says it wants to help elect candidates). The only thing readers were made aware of Hogg running for was DNC vice chair, which was, of course, covered in detail.

Now, we are not in the business of telling the DNC how to run its operation, but we will point out that it does seem odd it will allow its database to be used in a way that does not directly benefit the DNC and may even be at odds with DNC goals.

Contributions to Leaders We Deserve will, presumably, be used to support candidates that PAC endorses.  And while those candidates will likely be mostly, if not all, Democrats, the only criteria the PAC appears to require for consideration of an endorsement is that a candidate be a “young progressive.”  Being a Democrat does not appear to be required.  There also do not appear to be any specific policies the PAC endorses, other than its frequent, approving references to gun control.

In addition, many on the PAC’s Advisory Board are well-known for their extremist anti-gun views, including quite a few officials from anti-gun organizations.  So it is probably safe to say that the one position that the PAC insists on seeing a candidate take before it considers endorsing is opposition to gun ownership in America.

In other words, not only does Hogg’s position with DNC indicate the organization embraces his anti-gun views, but the fact that it allows him to use the organization’s resources to raise funds for an anti-gun PAC reinforces that impression.

We also mentioned that Hogg’s personal fund raising may be at odds with the DNC’s goals, so you may ask how we come to that assertion.

While policy discussion is scant at Leaders We Deserve, there are other things noted that may not always serve the DNC so well.  The website refers to supporting younger candidates who will “change the face of power,” and “who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.”  It also refers negatively to politicians who are “older, wealthier and white.”  There are an awful lot of prominent Democrats currently in office who are clearly “older, wealthier and white,” and who many would describe as both “the face of power” and part of the “status quo.”

Charles Schumer?

Nancy Pelosi?

Elizabeth Warren?

What will be the DNC’s position if Leaders We Deserve, with funds raised by David Hogg using DNC resources, decides it wants to support a younger candidate in a primary race against a Democrat incumbent who is “older, wealthier and white,” or part of the “status quo”?

The DNC has put itself in quite a difficult position. Promoting Hogg to such a prominent position within the organization was likely an attempt to try to attract younger voters—mostly those under 30—to the party. That voting bloc helped re-elect Donald Trump last November, as his support from them was greater than any Republican candidate since 2008.

Maybe Hogg’s youth will help attract younger voters to Democrat candidates, but what if he uses his position to raise funds against long-time Democrat incumbents?

To make matters worse for Democrats, a recent poll from Quinnipiac shows approval for Congressional Democrats has hit an all-time low, while Republicans have hit a record high.  And if that were not bad enough for the Democrat caucus, many consider Quinnipiac polls to skew in favor of Democrats.  Who knows how low Democrat elected officials have really sunk in the eyes of Americans?

It may be too early to lay any blame for the flailing Democrat Party directly at the feet of David Hogg or those who have promoted him at DNC.  But it also doesn’t seem likely that someone who describes himself as “politically toxic” and “too radical for American politics” was a wise choice for a leadership position in a political party that seems to be losing support with the American voters.

We’ve said it before and we will say it again—Democrats are not a monolithic bloc of anti-gun extremists. There are plenty of Democrats who support the Second Amendment (or would like to) and, based on the number of Democrats buying guns over the last several years, that population is growing.  Sadly, the same cannot be said about Democrat Party leadership.  Anti-gun extremists like Senator Chuck Schumer and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been forcing the party down a path opposed to the Second Amendment for decades.  We’d love to see that dynamic change and have the Democrat Party abandon attacking the U.S. Constitution as a litmus-test, partisan issue.

Now, with David Hogg ensconced in a key leadership position at the DNC, that change doesn’t seem likely.  But maybe his being so “politically toxic” and “radical” will awaken other Democrats to work harder to reset the course for their party.

Or maybe Hogg will just follow through with his apparent desire to replace “older, wealthier and white” politicians who are part of the “status quo” and find younger candidates to primary Schumer, Pelosi, and other Democrats who have been in office for decades.

If nothing else, the Hogg era at DNC will likely be interesting, to say the least.  It has been thus far.

TRENDING NOW
Baltimore Gets Serious on Crime Control, and the Results Speak for Themselves

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

Baltimore Gets Serious on Crime Control, and the Results Speak for Themselves

As the mid-year mark of 2025 hits, a promising report on crime trends has come out of the City of Baltimore. Surprising news at first glance until you dig deeper into the policy direction the ...

U.K. Moves to Legally De-suppress Suppressors

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

U.K. Moves to Legally De-suppress Suppressors

On July 4th, President Donald Trump signed into law his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which included a provision that eliminated the tax stamp fee of $200, but did not deregulate suppressors under the National Firearms ...

President Trump Supports Hunting and Resource Protection with Executive Actions

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

President Trump Supports Hunting and Resource Protection with Executive Actions

Just as the United States was preparing to celebrate 249 beautiful years, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on July 3rd establishing the “Make America Beautiful Again" Commission supporting hunters, outdoorsmen, and outdoor recreationists by prioritizing the ...

Legacy Media Finally Acknowledges Politization of Public Health

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

Legacy Media Finally Acknowledges Politization of Public Health

It appears the editors of The Atlantic are finally willing to entertain an idea that has long been obvious to gun rights supporters.

House Annual Appropriations Process Update

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

House Annual Appropriations Process Update

As the House Appropriations Committee is putting together legislation to fund the government, NRA-ILA has worked closely with policy makers to ensure several long-standing priorities for gun owners were included in the underlying bills.

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

DOJ Declines to Seek Supreme Court Review of Decision Striking Down Federal Laws Prohibiting FFLs From Selling Handguns to 18-to-20-Year-Olds

Thursday, July 10, 2025

DOJ Declines to Seek Supreme Court Review of Decision Striking Down Federal Laws Prohibiting FFLs From Selling Handguns to 18-to-20-Year-Olds

In Reese v. ATF, the Fifth Circuit held that 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(b)(1) and (c)(1)—which together forbid Federal Firearms Licensees from selling handguns to 18-to-20-year-olds—violate the Second Amendment.

NRA-ILA July 2025 Litigation Update

Thursday, July 10, 2025

NRA-ILA July 2025 Litigation Update

In the second quarter of 2025, the National Rifle Association filed two cert petitions in the U.S. Supreme Court and five amicus briefs, while continuing to litigate dozens of ongoing lawsuits across the country.

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Monday, July 7, 2025

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which includes a Second Amendment sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025. The NRA is thankful for Governor DeSantis’ strong ...

Maine: Lawmakers Call for Anti-2A Progressive Professor to Be Fired

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Maine: Lawmakers Call for Anti-2A Progressive Professor to Be Fired

In case you missed the media firestorm last week, a progressive professor at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, Maine, has come under fire for her emails belittling a student for her religious beliefs and views ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.