American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten has resigned from her at-large position within the Democratic National Committee, signaling a deepening rift between labor leadership and the party’s current direction.
In a letter addressed to DNC Chair Ken Martin, Weingarten said she could no longer serve in good conscience, citing that she is increasingly “out of step” with the leadership’s priorities. While she affirmed her loyalty to the Democratic Party, she criticized what she sees as a narrowing agenda and a lack of genuine outreach to key Democratic constituencies—especially labor.
Her resignation comes just weeks after she backed Ben Wikler in his unsuccessful bid to replace Martin as DNC Chair. Following the vote, Weingarten was swiftly removed from the influential Rules and Bylaws Committee—a move many saw as political retaliation.
She’s not the first to walk away. AFSCME President Lee Saunders also exited his DNC post recently, and former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg stepped down earlier this year, both citing similar concerns about transparency and ideological drift.
Weingarten’s departure sends a message: some of the Democratic Party’s most stalwart allies in organized labor feel sidelined. She warned that without a more inclusive and grassroots-driven approach, the party risks losing its connection with working families across the country.
Her exit leaves the DNC facing renewed pressure to clarify its path forward as it heads into a pivotal election season. Whether the leadership takes the warning seriously remains to be seen.