Democratic activist David Hogg’s group Leaders We Deserved endorsed its first candidate challenging a House incumbent on Monday.
The group is backing state Rep. Donavan McKinney (D) against incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar (D) in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.
“Shri Thanedar is exactly the kind of out-of-touch, ineffective, and out-for-himself incumbent we want to kick out of office,” Hogg said in a statement on Monday.
“Between his total failure at the most basic of constituent services, the almost 1 million in taxpayer dollars he spent buying ads promoting himself, and campaigning on not taking any corporate money only to sell out and collect big checks immediately after being sworn into office – he’s a terrible representative for the Democratic Party. This is our first incumbent challenge; it won’t be our last,” he continued.
Additionally, Hogg’s group threw its support behind Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee in Texas’ 18th congressional district, Randy Villegas in California’s 22nd congressional district, and Akbar in the race for Georgia State House District 106.
Texas’ 18th congressional district has been vacant since the late Rep. Sylvester Turner’s (D-Texas earlier this year. A special election is scheduled for Nov. 4. State Rep. Jolanda Jones (D) is also running for the seat. California’s 22nd congressional district is represented by Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.).
Hogg and his group made headlines after its launch earlier this year. The group is part of an effort to elect a new generation of lawmakers and drew headlines for the group’s $20 million effort to primary safe House Democrats. Hogg has repeatedly maintained that the group would not target House Democrats facing uphill reelection bids, also known as Frontline Members.
DNC Chair Ken Martin told reporters on a press call following the group’s effort that “no DNC officer should ever attempt to influence the outcome of a primary election.”
Martin emphasized at the time he has “great respect” for Hogg and referred to him as an “amazing young leader.”
Hogg left the DNC earlier this year after deciding not to run following a move to redo his election over a procedural rule about gender diversity.
