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Meowmee

(8,885 posts)
Thu May 1, 2025, 03:21 PM Yesterday

Native American woman gets a chance to topple Hogg at DNC

https://www.yahoo.com/news/native-american-woman-gets-chance-182956352.html

https://www.semafor.com/article/04/29/2025/native-american-woman-gets-a-chance-to-topple-hogg-at-dnc

"The Scoop
A candidate who failed to win a Democratic National Committee leadership role is challenging her defeat — the first threat to DNC Vice Chair David Hogg since he vowed to keep backing some primary challenges to incumbents.

The DNC’s credentials committee will meet virtually on May 12 to consider the challenge from Kalyn Free, a Native American attorney and party activist who lost a vice chair spot to Hogg at the party’s Feb. 1 meeting.

In her complaint, shared with Semafor by a Democratic source, Free argued that she lost a “fatally flawed election that violated the DNC Charter and discriminated against three women of color candidates,” and asks for “two new vice chair elections.” In February, after several rounds of voting, the race came down to five candidates – Kenyatta, Hogg, Free, and two other women. Kenyatta and Hogg claimed the open spots.

“By aggregating votes across ballots and failing to distinguish between gender categories in a meaningful way, the DNC’s process violated its own Charter and Bylaws, undermining both fairness and gender diversity,” argued Free, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation.

Free filed her challenge on Feb. 28, and committee members were informed yesterday that it would be taken up on May 12. Attorneys for Hogg argued in a response to the committee earlier this month that the election “was conducted in compliance with the rules in place at the time,” and that it is “inappropriate to try to revise those rules or decisions after the fact through a credentials challenge.”

45 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Native American woman gets a chance to topple Hogg at DNC (Original Post) Meowmee Yesterday OP
Systems will predictably resist change Fiendish Thingy Yesterday #1
How is a Native American woman "status quo?" mcar Yesterday #8
Brilliant quesiton, mcar.. Cha Yesterday #14
That's not the point Fiendish Thingy Yesterday #18
"Status quo" for this group means money in politics, corruption, so I'm sure they'll attack her that way next. betsuni 21 hrs ago #36
Hogg IS the status quo, the establishment, part of the system. Must be "pissed off and frightened" according betsuni 21 hrs ago #34
That is your opinion, but That is not accurate Fiendish Thingy 13 hrs ago #44
Rich white male Mountainguy 12 hrs ago #45
Wow, Us Democrats are really good at fighting ourselves. FSogol Yesterday #2
KF wants a redo which she may be entitled to Meowmee Yesterday #4
Yes. And Trump and his magat followers will contine to reap the benefits rollin74 Yesterday #7
Good Luck to Native America Attorney, Kalyn Free, who is Not Cha Yesterday #3
Yes. I noticed when I looked at who was elected Meowmee Yesterday #5
It would be brilliant to have a Woman on the Cha Yesterday #10
Yes she seems like a good candidate 😁 Meowmee Yesterday #11
I suspect that her election would really shake up mcar Yesterday #23
lol Precisely! Cha Yesterday #24
Carville said the DNC needs Hogg, like Lincoln needed Grant. Duncan Grant Yesterday #6
I like Hogg on the DNC, but he needs to wear one hat and not try to encourage primaying DEMS who are solid Attilatheblond Yesterday #13
Hogg would have been great at a different time. Right now, we have an emergency. kerry-is-my-prez Yesterday #19
X1000 yorkster Yesterday #28
Apt BoRaGard Yesterday #22
Say what? Grant won the Civil War for Lincoln. comradebillyboy Yesterday #29
I'm prejudiced. I'm always for the Native leftyladyfrommo Yesterday #9
I just looked her up in previous post.. Kalyn Free Cha Yesterday #12
I usually am but surprisingly, they were the largest group to vote for Trump. kerry-is-my-prez Yesterday #20
I believe she previously had this chance as she was on of the candidates when Hogg was chosen. Nanjeanne Yesterday #15
If you read the article it says she says the election was not fair/done properly Meowmee Yesterday #16
Yes I read that. So we shall see... If it was unfair it was unfair back in February. It's May now so not sure what Nanjeanne Yesterday #17
Appeal filed on 28feb wanderer54 Yesterday #27
She appealed it in February which was before he announced his plans I think Meowmee Yesterday #31
but there is also this from the article: Celerity Yesterday #25
Either way Free is entitled to due process MichMan 22 hrs ago #32
She will get her due process, but IF she is trying to change the rules on an ex post facto basis, the appeal should not Celerity 21 hrs ago #35
Her argument is that the election did not follow the already established overall DNC bylaws MichMan 21 hrs ago #37
And that is being disputed, as I have pointed out in multiple posts. We shall see what becomes of it all. They both will Celerity 20 hrs ago #39
I had hoped he's be an impetus for change Torchlight Yesterday #21
I hope that this lady prevails LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #26
I feel the same way- any primary generally hurts all the candidates Meowmee Yesterday #30
Yes, and it's difficult to believe they haven't figured that out yet. Nixie 18 hrs ago #41
Dems in disarray? jalan48 22 hrs ago #33
I hope she succeeds. nt LexVegas 21 hrs ago #38
It would look pretty bad if the DNC allowed her to steal the election. Renew Deal 20 hrs ago #40
It would look bad if the election wasn't fair to start with 😀 Meowmee 15 hrs ago #42
If she's 3rd way. She can go away. Blue Full Moon 13 hrs ago #43

Fiendish Thingy

(19,196 posts)
1. Systems will predictably resist change
Thu May 1, 2025, 03:53 PM
Yesterday

Hogg has really pissed off and frightened the status quo.

Fiendish Thingy

(19,196 posts)
18. That's not the point
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:41 PM
Yesterday

The system is attempting to rebalance itself by removing the person who is creating the imbalance- in this case, Hogg.

betsuni

(27,846 posts)
36. "Status quo" for this group means money in politics, corruption, so I'm sure they'll attack her that way next.
Fri May 2, 2025, 01:00 AM
21 hrs ago

If she received a $200 campaign contribution from a wealthy person that's proof she's a corruption monster paid to tease nice Justice Democrats types who just want to fix America by destroying the true threat to progress, the Democratic Party.



betsuni

(27,846 posts)
34. Hogg IS the status quo, the establishment, part of the system. Must be "pissed off and frightened" according
Fri May 2, 2025, 12:51 AM
21 hrs ago

to the song and dance "The Establishment is Terrified" so beloved by conspiracy theory audiences.

Fiendish Thingy

(19,196 posts)
44. That is your opinion, but That is not accurate
Fri May 2, 2025, 09:36 AM
13 hrs ago

The DNC is a long established system, with entrenched “traditions” and ways of doing things that have not been allowed to be questioned for decades.

Hogg (and Kenyatta) is an intruder into this established system, and his outspoken activism has caused an unbalancing of the DNC’s established system. As is common with all systems, whether governments, businesses, or family units, change is resisted, and often the change agent, in this case Hogg, becomes a lightning rod for blame, anger, criticism, and ultimately, expulsion from the system. This is the established system seeking what is called homeostasis, or a return to balance, without making any substantive change.

This is basic Systems Theory.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory

Oftentimes, a system’s push for homeostasis results in just plain stasis, or inactivity/immobilization. Stasis is the opposite of what the DNC needs right now.

What the DNC, and their voting base, needs right now is activation and mobilization.

But that would require change, and that might make people who are used to being comfortable and working within familiar and predictable conditions, it might make them uncomfortable.

Meowmee

(8,885 posts)
4. KF wants a redo which she may be entitled to
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:01 PM
Yesterday

I don't think she has plans to spend money to primary D if she were a vc for dnc.

Meowmee

(8,885 posts)
5. Yes. I noticed when I looked at who was elected
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:02 PM
Yesterday

and already thought it was unbalanced. I think all the vc and chair are men, maybe one woman. I have forgotten now.

Cha

(310,145 posts)
10. It would be brilliant to have a Woman on the
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:15 PM
Yesterday

DNC.

Snip~

Kalyn Cherie Free is an American attorney, former elected district attorney, and a tribal citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She is the first woman and Native American to be elected district attorney in Oklahoma. Free represents Oklahoma as the National Committeeperson on the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalyn_Free

TY

Attilatheblond

(5,758 posts)
13. I like Hogg on the DNC, but he needs to wear one hat and not try to encourage primaying DEMS who are solid
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:20 PM
Yesterday

Trying to do DNC AND Leaders We Deserve at same time just isn't viable. He needs to pick on and back off the other.

kerry-is-my-prez

(9,889 posts)
19. Hogg would have been great at a different time. Right now, we have an emergency.
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:49 PM
Yesterday

The #1 objective should be for Democrats (or Democratic-leaning Independents) to take back the house and the senate.

leftyladyfrommo

(19,710 posts)
9. I'm prejudiced. I'm always for the Native
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:14 PM
Yesterday

Americans. And for the women in general.

I admit it.

Cha

(310,145 posts)
12. I just looked her up in previous post.. Kalyn Free
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:18 PM
Yesterday

Looks like she'd be a Worthy Addition to the DNC.

TY

kerry-is-my-prez

(9,889 posts)
20. I usually am but surprisingly, they were the largest group to vote for Trump.
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:57 PM
Yesterday

Trump’s win shows Native Americans are changing their political leanings

By Jessica R. Towhey
| November 24, 2024 12:00 AM

https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/nov/24/trumps-win-shows-native-americans-are-off-the-democrats-reservation/

Political pundits were stunned by Donald Trump’s strong support among people of color — a surge that helped sweep him to the White House and a popular vote victory. However, while attention has focused on Trump’s improvement among Black and Hispanic voters, the group where Trump scored his most significant win?
Native Americans.
Exit polling from NBC News found Trump won 65 percent of the vote from “American Indians” (the term used by the pollsters), compared to 57 percent of votes from White Americans.

-snip-

“As tribal leaders, we’re just trying to take care of our own people,” former Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer said. “We’re tired of the same old, and there’s a lot of people in our movement.”

-snip-

“Similar to polls conducted nationwide among the general population, the Native News Online survey shows that Native voters are concerned about the high prices of everyday goods,” the website reported. “Inflation was the top issue, followed by jobs and the overall economy. The third top issue was Native American issues.”

This gives even more of a reason to be more inclusive of them. We need them back on our team. You would think they would be more concerned about the environment and against pipelines, drilling and fracking. Apparently, the Republicans were going into reservations and “working them” promising all kinds of things which they most likely are not going to do.

Nanjeanne

(6,060 posts)
15. I believe she previously had this chance as she was on of the candidates when Hogg was chosen.
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:30 PM
Yesterday

Nanjeanne

(6,060 posts)
17. Yes I read that. So we shall see... If it was unfair it was unfair back in February. It's May now so not sure what
Thu May 1, 2025, 04:39 PM
Yesterday

this all means - surprised she didn't challenge it way back then but then all this anti Hogg tweeting wasn't happening then so I guess in some way it makes sense.

Meowmee

(8,885 posts)
31. She appealed it in February which was before he announced his plans I think
Thu May 1, 2025, 08:06 PM
Yesterday

Dnc seems to move slowly because it was only announced recently that there will be a hearing about it now.

Celerity

(49,605 posts)
25. but there is also this from the article:
Thu May 1, 2025, 05:38 PM
Yesterday
Attorneys for Hogg argued in a response to the committee earlier this month that the election “was conducted in compliance with the rules in place at the time,” and that it is “inappropriate to try to revise those rules or decisions after the fact through a credentials challenge.”


IF that is indeed true, then this challenge should not be upheld, as Free is trying to ex post facto change the rules in place when the election actually occurred in order to get a do-over, as she doesn't like the original outcome.

MichMan

(15,041 posts)
32. Either way Free is entitled to due process
Fri May 2, 2025, 12:17 AM
22 hrs ago

No surprise that Hogg and Free have opposite views on whether the DNC election was per the rules or not.

Celerity

(49,605 posts)
35. She will get her due process, but IF she is trying to change the rules on an ex post facto basis, the appeal should not
Fri May 2, 2025, 01:00 AM
21 hrs ago

be successful. IF the rules in place at the time of the elections were not followed, then of course she is entitled to a fair and legal remedy.

IF the rules in place at the time of the election were not followed, that is a very bad look for the parts of the DNC that were in charge of running those elections.

MichMan

(15,041 posts)
37. Her argument is that the election did not follow the already established overall DNC bylaws
Fri May 2, 2025, 01:07 AM
21 hrs ago
“By aggregating votes across ballots and failing to distinguish between gender categories in a meaningful way, the DNC’s process violated its own Charter and Bylaws, undermining both fairness and gender diversity,” argued Free, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation.

Celerity

(49,605 posts)
39. And that is being disputed, as I have pointed out in multiple posts. We shall see what becomes of it all. They both will
Fri May 2, 2025, 02:00 AM
20 hrs ago

get their due process and will both get to make their case.

Attorneys for Hogg argued in a response to the committee earlier this month that the election “was conducted in compliance with the rules in place at the time,” and that it is “inappropriate to try to revise those rules or decisions after the fact through a credentials challenge.”


ATM there are 5 DNC vice chairs (3 are 'at-large': Hogg, Kenyatta, and Blanco), and 3 of the 5 are women (Artie Blanco, Jane Kleeb, and Reyna Walters-Morgan) The 4th is a gay black man (Malcolm Kenyatta) and the 5th is Hogg. Of the 5 vice chairs, 3 are also people of colour (Blanco, Walers-Morgan, and Kenyatta). 60 per cent female and 60 per cent PoC seems pretty diverse to me.

Torchlight

(4,572 posts)
21. I had hoped he's be an impetus for change
Thu May 1, 2025, 05:01 PM
Yesterday

but it seems he's going the exact same route and processing leverage just as so many others before him have.

LetMyPeopleVote

(162,387 posts)
26. I hope that this lady prevails
Thu May 1, 2025, 05:40 PM
Yesterday

David Hogg is going to hurt the party attacking democratic candidates

Meowmee

(8,885 posts)
30. I feel the same way- any primary generally hurts all the candidates
Thu May 1, 2025, 08:02 PM
Yesterday

If he truly supports d imo he would put the money to fighting R candidates not attacking any d candidates. I hope she prevails too.

Nixie

(17,635 posts)
41. Yes, and it's difficult to believe they haven't figured that out yet.
Fri May 2, 2025, 03:53 AM
18 hrs ago

I hope she prevails, too.

Renew Deal

(83,848 posts)
40. It would look pretty bad if the DNC allowed her to steal the election.
Fri May 2, 2025, 02:13 AM
20 hrs ago

All the talk about "democracy" and "fair elections" would look hypocritical.

Meowmee

(8,885 posts)
42. It would look bad if the election wasn't fair to start with 😀
Fri May 2, 2025, 06:57 AM
15 hrs ago

Are you accusing her of trying to steal the election?

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