US Democrats try to head off intra-party challenges ahead of 2026 elections

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The head of the Democratic National Committee on Thursday issued a warning to a senior party official to back away from plans to help finance progressive primary challenges to Democratic incumbents running for re-election in the 2026 midterm elections, according to media reports.

“No DNC officer should ever attempt to influence the outcome of a primary election, whether on behalf of an incumbent or a challenger,” newly-elected DNC Chair Ken Martin told reporters.

Martin’s broadside was aimed at DNC Vice Chair David Hogg, who has said that he would raise money through an outside group, “Leaders We Deserve,” to foster such challenges.

That message came with the warning that Hogg could get involved in Democratic primary campaigns — but not while holding down a DNC job.

The party is weighing a possible rules change that would facilitate the firings of DNC officials for such outside activities.

Hogg, 25, gained national attention after surviving a 2018 mass shooting at his high school in Parkland, Florida. He became a voice for tighter gun control and has evolved into a political activist.

Since then he has been active in progressive causes and in February won one of five DNC vice chair spots, as the party intensified its efforts to appeal to more progressive voters.

The Democratic Party is engaged in a roiling battle over its future, which has progressives insisting on more aggressive responses to President Donald Trump and Republican initiatives, ranging from U.S. immigration and border security policies to tax cuts for the wealthy and the future of the Social Security retirement program.

Many Democratic establishment figures instead want to steer the party toward expanding the Democratic base by appealing to more moderate rural and working class voters that have abandoned the it over the past several years.

Martin also unveiled an “organize everywhere, win anywhere” strategy that he said will see $1 million a month being transferred from the DNC to Democratic organizations in all 50 states.

“I’m done with Democrats myopically focusing on just a few battleground states every few years,” he added.

Republicans won control of both chambers of Congress in addition to the White House in November, which has left Democrats with almost no ability in Washington to limit Trump’s policies, and sparked a wave of intra-party recriminations.

Democrats hope to regain control of at least one chamber of Congress in next year’s election, with the House of Representatives seen as competitive, though they face a tough path to recapturing control of the Senate.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan;Editing by Alistair Bell)