US Democrats have released an autopsy of their 2024 presidential election defeat. The report was commissioned after Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump but has been delayed, leading to speculation about hidden findings.
Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Ken Martin published it “unedited and unabridged,” despite misgivings that it does not meet his or the party’s standards. He stated withholding the report created a bigger distraction.
The document is written by Democratic strategist Paul Rivera and includes a disclaimer stating it reflects only Rivera’s views, not the DNC. The committee also lacked access to many sources, interviews, and data used in the assertions.
This release has intensified doubts about Martin’s leadership as midterm elections approach. Donors and party members have complained that an effort to explain one defeat led to a new internal crisis.
The review was initially expected last year but repeatedly delayed. Before its official release, CNN had already obtained and published it – missing sections including a conclusion.
Despite the process issues, the report paints a stark picture of a party vacillating between stagnation and retrogression since Barack Obama’s 2008 victory. It criticizes the Biden White House and Harris campaign for failing to define their candidate beyond being “not Trump” and says Democrats failed to make a strong case against him.
However, the report offers few firm solutions, with some of the most divisive questions from 2024 largely absent – including Biden’s decision to run again, Harris taking over the ticket without a competitive process, and the effect of the Gaza war on Democratic support.