Infighting at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is threatening to consume Democratic leadership just as the midterms are starting to kick into gear.

The tensions come after a DNC panel moved forward this week with the potential ouster of two elected officials, including gun control activist David Hogg.

Now officials find themselves in a war of words over the issues at play, with Hogg alleging the move is a sign of party insiders seeking to force him out over his calls for supporting primary challengers to certain incumbents.

Though others at the DNC deny the vote was related to Hogg’s efforts, the feud is stirring up drama that Democrats want to avoid as they focus on regaining control of the House and possibly flipping the Senate next year.

“I hate to be the party of chaos when the GOP is doing such a good job of it,” Democratic consultant Marj Halperin said. “This isn’t the priority voters want the DNC to be focused on.”

Pressure had been bubbling up for weeks, even before the DNC’s Credentials Committee voted Monday in favor of holding a new election for the two positions that Hogg and Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta currently hold.

Hogg, who was elected to one of the DNC’s vice chair positions in February, first sparked controversy last month when he indicated that his group, Leaders We Deserve, would launch a $20 million effort to back primary challenges to incumbent House Democrats in safe seats. He emphasized that the group wouldn’t target Democrats running in competitive districts or those who have been effective at standing up to President Trump.

“The reality is you should not be worried about this if you are a member of Congress if you are effective like [Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)], for example, or [Rep.] Nancy Pelosi [D-Calif.],” he told The Hill at the time.........

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