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Former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg told moderate Democrats they “don’t have the right values” Thursday during an appearance on “The Source,” arguing the party establishment is repeatedly losing because its priorities are out of step with Americans as progressive candidates score primary victories ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Hogg made his sharpest criticism after host Kaitlin Collins asked what he would tell moderates concerned that progressive nominees could struggle against Republicans in general elections.
“The reason why the establishment of our party is being defeated over and over and over again is because they don’t have the right values that are aligned with not the Democratic base, but the American people,” Hogg said. “Where people are sick and tired of listening to Democrats and tell them all the reasons why they can’t solve their problems.”
Former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg said moderate Democrats “don’t have the right values” as he argued the party establishment has repeatedly failed voters. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Fast Company)
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Hogg told moderates they needed to change their approach rather than ask successful progressive candidates to move toward the center.
“I would say to the moderates in our party, you need to figure out how to actually offer something new to voters that isn’t just the same message that you gave them in 2024,” Hogg said.
Steven Bonnell II, the liberal streamer known as “Destiny,” pushed back on Hogg’s assessment in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying he does not believe the former DNC official represents rank-and-file Democrats.
“I would say that this is outside of the Democratic Party’s mainstream views,” Destiny said. “Polls seem to evidence this, with a plurality (or majority, in some cases) of Democratic voters feeling as though the party has moved too far to the left.”
Liberal streamer Destiny told Fox News Digital that Hogg’s comments fall outside the Democratic mainstream and could alienate moderate voters. (Photo by DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
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Destiny, who has repeatedly criticized the party’s far-left socialist wing, said Hogg’s comments were an example of a dynamic that allows progressives to attack moderates without facing similar scrutiny from within the party.
“People in the Democratic Party’s extreme fringe have created a ‘ratchet effect,’ where you cannot criticize anyone to the left-of-moderate view point,” Destiny said. “Those same people can infinitely attack the moderate wing, leading outsiders (and even people from within) to view the Democratic Party as far more extreme than it actually is.”
He warned that a Democratic Party that decides its moderates do not share its values could face consequences at the ballot box.
“I think it would mean the Democratic Party would probably have a hugely difficult time succeeding in the upcoming general in 2028, and possibly even stumble in 2026,” Destiny said. “Which is especially ridiculous given how low Trump’s popularity is at the moment.”
Hogg’s remarks came as progressive candidates notch primary victories and Democrats debate the party’s ideological direction ahead of the 2026 midterms. (Reuters)
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Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville has taken the opposite side of the party’s ideological battle, telling Fox News Digital Thursday that Democratic primary voters would ultimately reject the socialist wing.
“I think it’s more likely than not that the Democrats embrace sanity,” Carville said.
Carville said a takeover by the socialist wing could ultimately fracture the party, reiterating comments he has made amid the growing influence of figures including self-described socialist streamer Hasan Piker.
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“That probably would result in some kind of schism in the party,” Carville said. “I’m going to let Democratic voters determine the direction that party goes in, and if it goes in the direction — which I’m pretty confident it won’t — but if it goes in that direction, then I’m going to be 82. OK, fine, go ahead, but not with me.”
Carville has also said he would leave the party if Piker became a significant force within it, while Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., responded that Carville could “start his own party.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to the DNC for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News Digital’s Alexander Hall contributed to this article.