American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, a longtime powerhouse member of the Democratic National Committee, is leaving the DNC, according to a letter obtained by POLITICO.
Weingarten, who has been a member of the DNC for 23 years, wrote to DNC Chair Ken Martin that she had fundamental disagreements with him.
“I appear to be out of step with the leadership you are forging,” the union leader said in the letter dated June 5, “and I do not want to be the one who keeps questioning why we are not enlarging our tent and actively trying to engage more of our communities.”
Weingarten’s departure is the latest sign that the party is still embroiled in factional disputes, and it is likely to only further finger-pointing and intensify criticism among Democrats. Weingarten has defended former DNC vice chair David Hogg, who was ousted last week from his post on the committee, as he has come under fire over his decision to fund primary challenges against Democrats that he sees as ineffective in safe-blue districts.
Weingarten also supported another candidate to lead the DNC, Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler, during the party’s election earlier this year. When Martin took over, he removed Weingarten from her position on the influential DNC’s rules and bylaws committee, which she had sat on since 2009.
A spokesperson for Weingarten said that when she told AFT members the news of her departure, “Randi has gotten applause” from them, “much to her dismay as a proud Dem.”
Martin has been criticized by some Democrats after he told DNC officers and staff in a recent private conversation that Hogg had “essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to” and “I don’t know if I wanna do this anymore,” as POLITICO first reported. But many other Democrats, including DNC officers, have stood by Martin and bashed Hogg as divisive.
The infighting among Democrats comes as they are trying to rebuild their party in the wake of their 2024 loss.
Martin did not respond to a request for comment.
