Representative Malcolm Kenyatta speaking at a rally. (Credit: PA House)
On Monday, the credentials committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) pushed to nullify the results of the votes that elected Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg as two of the three vice chair positions for the DNC in February.
The push came as a result of internal party frustration by one of the losing candidates, Kalyn Free, who felt the election was not fair and disadvantaged female candidates.
Kenyatta is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 181st district, where he took office in January 2019. He grew up in North Philadelphia and later attended Temple University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in strategic communications, and attended Drexel University, where he earned a Master of Science in public communication.
On February 1, Kenyatta was elected as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee with 298 votes; A total of 201.5 votes are the minimum required to be elected.
100 Days ago I was elected as a Vice Chair of the DNC with 298 votes well above the 201.5 threshold to win.
David Hogg received only 214.5
Today the DNC credentials committee heard a (complex challenge) to this election and voted for a new one to be held.
I have thoughts:
— Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (@malcolmkenyatta) May 13, 2025
“I’ve constistantly done the hard and unglamorous work to change this party, which I was elected to do with no fan fare and no pay,” said Kenyatta on ‘X’. “So yes, I am pissed that this challenge was successful, especially when I won in such a resounding way.”
Free has claimed that the election was unjust and gave Kenyatta and Hogg an unfair advantage because of the national party's requirement to achieve a gender balance within the executive committee.
The vote for the vice chairs was the last position vote held in the process of voting for a new slate of officers. During the vote, because the DNC pushed for an equally divided office along gender lines, it became apparent that at least one of the chairs needed to be filled by a male representative.
While voting to fill the positions, the party decided to hold the election on a single ballot instead of two separate ballots to speed up the voting process.
Free has the belief that this decision gave Kenyatta and Hogg a leg up as the only males remaining in the race.
The DNC, with more than 400-members, will hold another vote to determine whether they will call for a new election that could cost Kenyatta and Hogg their positions.
