DNC chair rebukes David Hogg for pushing primaries against Democratic incumbents

Activist David Hogg set off a firestorm among Democrats when he said his PAC would fund a $20 million effort to challenge “ineffective” incumbents in primaries.

Democratic party leaders Thursday morning said its officers should not take sides in primaries, addressing a situation involving activist and Democratic National Committee vice chair David Hogg.

"Let me be unequivocal. No DNC officer should ever attempt to influence the outcome of a primary election, whether on behalf of an incumbent or a challenger," DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a press call. "Voters should decide who our primary nominees are, not DNC leadership. Our role is to serve as stewards of a fair, open and trusted process, not to tilt the scales."

Martin went on to say he had spoken to Hogg about what he perceived as a conflict.

"I understand what he's trying to do," Martin continued. "As I've said to him, 'If you want to challenge incumbents, you're more than free to do that. But just not as an officer of the DNC, because our job is to be a neutral arbiter. We can't be both the referee and also the player at the same time. You have to make a decision.'"

In an interview with NBC News on late Thursday afternoon, Hogg indicated that he had not violated any of the DNC bylaws.