‘Firing squad in the circle’: Dems slam ‘weak and whiny’ DNC chair

Democrats are becoming increasingly frustrated over Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Ken Martin’s leadership and worsening infighting in the committee, Politico reported on Thursday.

One anonymous DNC member told Politico they believe Martin — who was elected to the role in February — is “weak and whiny.” Meanwhile, another anonymous DNC member told the outlet the DNC chairman has been “invisible,” adding that his “early tenure has been disappointing.” 

Rahm Emanuel, who served as a White House chief of staff to former President Barack Obama, told Politico he thinks the DNC has turned into a “firing squad in the circle.” Emanuel — who is reportedly considering a presidential bid in 2028 — has previously criticized the Democratic Party as being too “weak and woke.” (RELATED: Democrats Seriously Want New Party Leaders, Survey Says)

“We’re in the most serious existential crisis with Donald Trump both at home and abroad — and with the biggest political opportunity in a decade,” Emanuel told the outlet.

“And the DNC has spent six months on a firing squad in the circle, and can’t even fire a shot out,” Emanuel added. “And Trump’s world is a target-rich environment.”

David Hogg, a gun control activist who was elected to serve as one of the DNC’s vice chairs in February, drew fire from other Democrats after he announced plans in April to primary some incumbent Democratic lawmakers. The DNC on June 11 voted to oust Hogg from his vice chair position, Politico first reported.

Additionally, in June 8, leaked audio revealed that Martin expressed concern about Hogg’s ability to lead the party due to the infighting his decisions had ignited, according to Politico. 

Earlier in June, Randi Weingarten, the longtime head of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and fellow union president Lee Saunders, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), announced they were quitting the DNC, the NYT reported Sunday.

One anonymous Democratic strategist told Politico that the DNC has become “weaker” than they have “ever seen it.”

“The DNC is weaker than I have ever seen it … They have shown zero ability to chart a post-24 vision for Democrats,” the anonymous Democratic strategist told the outlet. “The longtime leaders of the teachers and state and local employee unions couldn’t in good faith continue to rubber-stamp what was going on with the DNC.”

Some DNC officials are reportedly considering borrowing money to continue paying the bills following a decline in big donations in recent months, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

Democratic Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan said in a June 11 post to X that he “would love to have a day go by” that the DNC “doesn’t do something embarrassing & off message,” adding that “internal bullshit done externally is stupid.”

Additionally, Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna wrote in an X post that he wants to “build a party with a big tent and inclusion, not subtraction and pushing people out.”

“I ran and won the race for DNC chair to get the DNC out of DC — because too many people in DC want to point fingers, and play the blame game,” Martin said in a statement to Politico. “They want to win irrelevant arguments, with no strategy involved, but the one strategic thing that makes us relevant is winning elections. I was elected chair to help our party win again, and we are.”

A DNC spokesperson did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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