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Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders Exit DNC Citing Leadership Disagreements

Their departures deepen internal divisions within the Democratic National Committee, raising concerns about party cohesion before the 2025 midterms.

President of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten speaks during a rally in front of the Department of Education to protest budget cuts on March 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders.
Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers (AFT), speaks during the National Action Network annual convention in New York City, U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper/File Photo
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Overview

  • Randi Weingarten informed DNC Chair Ken Martin on June 5 that she would not accept reappointment as an at-large member, saying she was “out of step” with his leadership.
  • In her letter, Weingarten criticized the committee’s direction and urged a broader outreach to engage diverse communities.
  • She had been removed from the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee after backing Ben Wikler’s unsuccessful challenge to Martin for the chairmanship.
  • Lee Saunders resigned shortly after Weingarten, joining former vice chair David Hogg in stepping down over similar disputes with party leadership.
  • The American Federation of Teachers, representing 1.7 million members, will continue to engage independently in the 2025–26 election cycle outside the DNC structure.