...
By Andrew Stanton
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is facing backlash from some Democrats over its decision not to release an "autopsy" on what went wrong during the 2024 elections.
Newsweek reached out to the DNC for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Democrats have been divided over what contributed to their losses last year, when President Donald Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris and Republicans won control of both the House of Representatives and Senate.
Read More on Politics
Some Democrats have blamed their losses on former President Joe Biden’s decision to run again, and his later decision to drop out of the race. Some Democrats blamed the economy. Others argued Harris’ campaign was to blame for not adequately inspiring voters to turn out. The DNC conducted hundreds of interviews with Democrats to create a report that would outline those losses. The decision to not release the report underscores ongoing tension between party leadership and many of its voters.
What to Know
DNC Chair Ken Martin opted against releasing the report. In a statement provided to Newsweek, Martin wrote that the party has “completed a comprehensive review of what happened in 2024 and are already putting our learnings into motion.”
“Here’s our North Star: does this help us win? If the answer is no, it’s a distraction from the core mission,” he said.
But the decision was met with criticism from many Democrats.
Democratic activist and former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg denounced the decision on X. “I ran for DNC vice chair after massive losses in 2024 because I believed we needed to change our party. Leadership disagreed with my work to primary asleep-at-the-wheel incumbents and challenge the status quo,” he wrote. “Now, they are spiking an autopsy of the election that gave us Trump 2.0. If party leaders won't take the steps required to rebuild ourselves into a winning coalition, we will take it into our own hands.”
...
Democratic strategist Lis Smith wrote on X that she suspects “the reasons why this isn't being released are precisely the reasons why it should be released.”
Jon Favreau, who served as speechwriter to former President Barack Obama, called the decision “unreal.”
“The DNC's actual position is that if the public knew more about what Democrats got wrong in the last election, it would hurt the party's chances in the next election. How does this rebuild trust between the party insiders and grassroots activists and organizers?” he wrote.
He continued, “Why does the party only trust people with the truth who are part of their insular club? And why on Earth would the DNC think that keeping their promise to release the report would create more of a backlash than announcing that they're keeping it secret?”
Jon Lovett, another former Obama speechwriter, said not releasing the report is "patronizing."
"Why do you believe the engaged Democrats who care deeply about winning in 2026 and 2028 cannot handle the information you've gathered, @kenmartin73?" he posted.
Progressive commentator Nina Turner called not releasing the report a “bad move.”
Some Democrats Defend Decision to Not Publish Report
Not all Democrats were opposed to not releasing the report. Strategist Xochitl Hinojosa, former DNC communications director, wrote on X that she “could not agree more with this decision.”
“We all know why Dems lost in 2024. The DNC has and should continue to make changes, and that is one of the reasons Dems have been winning up and down the ballot. Let’s stop looking back. Let’s look forward and continue winning,” she wrote.
Daniel Wessel, a Democratic strategist, also defended the move. “Does anyone really think we need to keep rehashing 2024? This is objectively the right decision. Democrats just won a bunch of elections. At this point, there is more to be gained from looking forward than continuing to beat a dead horse,” he posted to X.
What People Are Saying
Martin, in a statement: “We completed a comprehensive review of what happened in 2024 and are already putting our learnings into motion. And we're winning again—even in places that haven't gone blue in decades. In our conversations with stakeholders from across the Democratic ecosystem, we are aligned on what’s important, and that’s learning from the past and winning the future. Here’s our North Star: does this help us win? If the answer is no, it’s a distraction from the core mission.”
Amanda Litman, president of Run for Something, on X: “I get that the autopsy would've kicked off a s***show of a conversation that would have been deeply exhausting -- but transparency builds trust, & especially going into the year when the DNC will shape the presidential primary process, it *matters* that people trust it.”
Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross, also on X: “We are reminded of how badly 2024 went every time Trump speaks, with each rising bill, with unemployment surging...the autopsy should be internal and advise strategy moving forward. The 2024 election was brutal but more hand wringing won't help.”
What Happens Next
Democrats will test their message in the 2026 midterms, when every seat in the House of Representatives and a third in the Senate are up for election.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines