Many young Democrats see David Hogg’s exit from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as potentially accelerating his push to wage progressive primary challenges to middle-of-the-road incumbents.

That sentiment was bolstered on Tuesday with Zohran Mamdani’s stunning primary win in New York City’s mayoral race.

"It’s gonna be a fun next couple years," Hogg wrote Tuesday night, later adding that all establishment Democrats who endorsed former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) should be primaried.

Even before Mamdani’s win, young Democrats said Hogg’s high-profile ouster from DNC leadership could be a good thing for the progressive movement.

“I think with what David Hogg wants to do, it does make more sense probably to not let the constant tug of war between that and the party be the news cycle,” said Jake Rakov, a 37-year-old running to unseat Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), a septuagenarian who has served 15 terms in the House.

Hogg and other progressives have positioned Mamdani’s victory as a blueprint for advancing a new future for Democrats as the party continues to reckon with its precipitous slides in the 2024 election, especially among young voters.

His group, Leaders We Deserve, is one of several organizations that have risen up in the last several cycles dedicated to electing young progressives.

“The work that he’s been doing at Leaders We Deserve is so much more effective done outside the party infrastructure,” said Amanda Litman, the founder of Run for Something, another progressive group.

Hogg ouster underscores Dem divides

Hogg........

© The Hill