David Hogg‘s $20M Promise? Yeah, It Didn’t Exactly Pan Out
So Here’s What Happened
Back in 2023, David Hogg—you know, the Parkland guy—made this big announcement. His group was gonna raise $20 million to help Democrats in tight races. Big talk, right? Fast forward to now, and guess what? They barely scraped together $1.5 mil. That’s like promising a five-course meal and showing up with a bag of chips. And people noticed. One Democrat even called it “the grift that keeps on grifting.” Ouch. So what gives? Let’s break it down.
Who Even Is David Hogg?
If you’ve been living under a rock, Hogg became famous after surviving the Parkland school shooting in 2018. Kid had guts—started March for Our Lives, pushed hard for gun control. Then he pivoted to politics, launching a PAC to get young people voting and fund progressive candidates. Some folks loved it; others side-eyed the move. Like, is this guy an activist or a political operator now?
The $20M Dream
Hogg’s pitch was simple: flood battleground states with cash, flip some seats, and make Republicans sweat. Media ate it up. Progressives got hyped. But here’s the thing—raising that kind of money isn’t like crowdfunding a Kickstarter. It takes serious connections and hustle. And honestly? A lot of us were skeptical from the jump. Twenty million? Really?
Reality Check: $1.5M
Turns out, skepticism was warranted. They pulled in just $1.5 million—barely 7.5% of the goal. Why? Could be donor fatigue. Maybe bad planning. Or maybe they just overpromised. Compared to big-time Democratic PACs, it’s kinda embarrassing. Those groups rake in tens of millions like it’s nothing. Hogg’s haul? Not so much.
Follow the Money
So where’d that $1.5 mil go? A chunk went to basics—salaries, travel, ads. The usual. But not much actually reached candidates. Watchdog groups started asking questions, and honestly, the answers weren’t great. Some Democrats grumbled privately, saying the cash could’ve been way better spent. Like, maybe on, I dunno, actual campaigns?
The “Grift” Talk
Then the knives came out. A DNC insider told The New York Post Hogg “needs an internship. Not a PAC.” Harsh. Others called it a grift—fancy word for “taking money and not delivering.” And look, overhead costs were high, results were fuzzy. It’s not a great look when you’re asking people to trust you with their cash.
How People Reacted
Predictably, conservatives had a field day. “See? Liberals can’t even raise money right.” Progressives mostly shrugged it off or made excuses. Social media? Yeah, it got messy. Memes everywhere. Hogg’s team said they were playing the long game, but let’s be real—this wasn’t the win they wanted.
What’s the Takeaway?
Here’s the lesson: Activist energy doesn’t always translate to political success. Raising money is one thing; spending it wisely is another. Donors—especially young ones—should ask hard questions before throwing cash at a shiny new PAC. Track record matters. Transparency matters. Otherwise, you’re just funding someone’s LinkedIn clout.
Wrapping Up
Hogg’s heart might’ve been in the right place, but execution matters. This whole thing feels like a cautionary tale. Next election cycle, donors better demand receipts—because trust is easy to lose and hard to get back. And $20 million promises? Maybe hold off on those until you’ve got the receipts to back it up.
Source: NY Post – US News