In a significant shake-up within the Democratic National Committee (DNC), two of the country’s most prominent labor leaders—Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders—have stepped down from their roles in protest over the party’s current leadership and strategic direction.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), resigned from the DNC on June 5, expressing frustration over what she sees as a narrowing of the party’s political tent. In a resignation letter addressed to DNC Vice Chair Ken Martin, Weingarten wrote, “I do not want to be the one who keeps questioning why we are not enlarging our tent and actively trying to engage more and more of our communities.” Her departure marks the end of a decades-long involvement with the committee, including serving on the influential Rules and Bylaws Committee since 2009.
Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), similarly opted out of a new term with the DNC, formally declining his nomination weeks earlier. In a public statement, Saunders emphasized the need for new energy and strategies: “These are new times. They demand new strategies, new thinking, and a renewed way of fighting for the values we hold dear. This is not a time to close ranks or turn inward.”
Combined, AFT and AFSCME represent over 3 million union members. Their leaders’ decisions to step away from the DNC suggest deeper fissures between labor’s priorities and the current direction of party leadership under Ken Martin.
Tensions have been simmering within the DNC since earlier this year when Martin defeated Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler in a contentious election for DNC Chair. Both Weingarten and Saunders backed Wikler. Their removal from the Rules and Bylaws Committee and subsequent refusal to serve as at-large members have been interpreted by some as fallout from that leadership contest.
The situation adds to a backdrop of broader party unrest. In June, a procedural vote led to the invalidation of activist David Hogg’s election as a DNC vice chair. While the official reason was unrelated to his outspoken stance on challenging incumbent Democrats in primaries, the episode further reflected ongoing debates about party openness and reform. Hogg chose not to rerun for the role.
Reactions within the DNC have been mixed. Stuart Applebaum, Chair of the DNC Labor Council, defended Martin and said the party is focused on expanding, not contracting. “Martin is bringing new people into our tent, reasserting the strength of the Democratic Party, and is already winning races to make us competitive in every part of the country,” he said.
However, others see the exits of Weingarten and Saunders as a warning sign that key pillars of the party’s historic support base may be feeling sidelined. A DNC insider, speaking anonymously, commented, “Ever since the horse [Weingarten] bet on in the Chairs race lost, she has always been on the other side of the fence as Ken—this is no surprise.”
Their departure raises concerns about how the party engages with organized labor moving forward. With union members forming a vital constituency in swing states and urban strongholds, the DNC’s evolving strategy may need to adapt to retain their support.
As the Democratic Party looks ahead to 2024 and beyond, the challenge will be to reconcile internal divisions, broaden its coalition, and ensure that long-standing allies like labor unions remain not just supportive but actively engaged in shaping its future.
