Fact Check: Randi Weingarten, leader of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, resigned from the Democratic National Committee on June 5, 2023.

Fact Check: Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders Resigned from the DNC on June 5, 2023

What We Know

On June 5, 2023, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and Lee Saunders, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), resigned from their positions within the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This decision was made in the context of disagreements with the DNC's new chairman, Ken Martin. Both leaders expressed concerns about the party's direction and its ability to expand its coalition (New York Times, Washington Post).

Weingarten, who had served on the DNC since 2002, indicated in her resignation letter that she felt "out of step" with the current leadership and did not want to continue questioning the party's approach to engaging communities (CBS News). Saunders also declined his nomination to remain on the DNC, citing the need for the DNC to evolve and meet the challenges facing public service workers (CNN).

Analysis

The claim that Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders resigned from the DNC on June 5, 2023, is corroborated by multiple reputable sources. The New York Times and Washington Post both reported on the resignations, highlighting the internal discord within the DNC and the specific grievances expressed by Weingarten and Saunders regarding the leadership of Ken Martin (New York Times, Washington Post).

The reliability of these sources is high, as both are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. The New York Times is known for its in-depth political coverage, while the Washington Post has a strong reputation for investigative journalism. Other sources, such as CNN and CBS News, also confirmed the resignations, providing additional context and quotes from the resignation letters (CNN, CBS News).

The context of the resignations is significant, as it reflects broader tensions within the Democratic Party, particularly regarding its leadership and strategic direction. Both Weingarten and Saunders had supported a rival candidate for DNC chair, which adds to the credibility of their grievances against Martin's leadership (New York Times, Washington Post).

Conclusion

The claim that Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders resigned from the Democratic National Committee on June 5, 2023, is True. This conclusion is based on multiple credible sources that confirm the resignations and provide context regarding the reasons behind them, including dissatisfaction with the party's leadership and direction.

Sources

1. Randi Weingarten Quits D.N.C. Post in Dispute With Chairman
2. Two top union leaders leave DNC, dealing blow to Chair Ken Martin
3. Union leaders Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders quit DNC posts in the latest upheaval
4. Two large labor union leaders leave DNC over disagreements
5. Randi Weingarten, Lee Saunders quit DNC in latest blow to Dem Party leadership
6. Teachers union boss Randi Weingarten and labor chief ditch DNC over beef with leadership
7. Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders quit the DNC in latest upheaval - MSN
8. "Two Top Union Leaders Quit D.N.C. Posts in Dispute With ...