NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� 鈥渨rote off rural America” during the 2024 presidential campaign and failed to attack with sufficient 鈥渘egative firepower,” according to a long-awaited post-election autopsy released Thursday by the Democratic National Committee.
But the document’s key findings, the focus of much mystery over the last year, were almost an afterthought among Democratic officials who expressed deep frustration with DNC chair ‘s handling of the situation and the direction of the party’s political machine.
Martin shared the 192-page report only after facing from Democratic operatives. He originally promised to release the autopsy even before taking over the committee last year, only to keep it under wraps because he worried it would interfere with Democrats’ focus on the November midterms.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to create a distraction,鈥� Martin wrote on Substack. 鈥淚ronically, in doing so, I ended up creating an even bigger distraction. And for that, I sincerely apologize.鈥�
He said the report was withheld because it 鈥渨as not ready for primetime,鈥� and the DNC covered the document with annotations and disclaimers saying it was incomplete and unsubstantiated.
The report’s release did nothing to temper irritation at Martin, and Democratic insiders were exasperated as they spent the day talking about a two-year-old election instead of focusing on Trump’s unpopular war in Iran, surging prices or the backlash against the president’s .
Martin faces growing outrage
Indeed, the initial reaction to the report was a mix of bafflement and anger over Martin鈥檚 handling of the situation.
Democratic strategist Dan Pfeiffer, formerly a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said Martin 鈥渕ust go.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to imagine anyone handling anything worse than Ken Martin handled the DNC autopsy,鈥� he wrote on social media. 鈥淚t was a disaster of his own making, and it鈥檚 sufficient evidence that he is not the right person to lead the DNC at this time.鈥�
Although the autopsy criticizes Democrats’ focus on 鈥渋dentity politics,鈥� it sidesteps some of the most controversial elements of the 2024 campaign. The report does not address former President Joe Biden鈥檚 decision to seek reelection, the to replace him after or the party’s acrimonious divide over
鈥淚 am not proud of this product; it does not meet my standards, and it won鈥檛 meet your standards,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 endorse what鈥檚 in this report, or what鈥檚 left out of it. I could not in good faith put the DNC鈥檚 stamp of approval on it. But transparency is paramount.鈥�
During a conversation with staff Thursday, Martin announced that the report’s primary author, consultant Paul Rivera, was no longer working with the DNC, according to a person on the call not authorized to speak publicly about the private discussion.
A spokesperson for Harris did not respond to a request for comment.
Report says Democrats don’t 鈥榣isten to all voters鈥�
The postelection report, which was first released by CNN, calls for 鈥渁 renewed focus on the voters of Middle America and the South, who have come to believe they are not included in the Democratic vision of a stronger and more dynamic America for everyone.鈥�
鈥淢illions of Americans are suffering from poor access to healthcare, manufacturing and job losses, and a failing infrastructure, yet continue to be persuaded to vote against their best interests because they do not see themselves reflected in the America of the ,鈥� the report says.
The autopsy points to a reduction in support and training for Democratic state parties, voter registration shifts and 鈥渁 persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.鈥�
Thursday’s release comes as Martin confronts among party officials who are increasingly concerned about the health of their political machine barely a year into his term. Some Democratic operatives have had informal discussions about recruiting a new chair, even though most believe that Martin鈥檚 job isn’t in serious jeopardy ahead of the midterm elections.
Few were satisfied with how Martin navigated the report’s release.
鈥淭he execution, the rollout and the coverup are indicative of how Ken Martin is fundamentally not up to the task,鈥� said Amanda Litman, who leads the Democratic-allied organization Run For Something. 鈥淗e will be incapable of rebuilding the trust necessary to facilitate a Democratic primary in 2027-2028.鈥�
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said the Gaza omission was 鈥渘otable.鈥� She also declined to back Martin when asked by The Associated Press whether she supports his leadership.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad that there鈥檚 something out,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚, of course, taken a very long time.鈥�
Were Democrats too nice?
The report found that Harris and her allies failed to focus enough on Trump’s negatives, especially his felony convictions. This was part of a broader criticism that Democrats’ messaging is too focused on reason and winning arguments, 鈥渆ven in cycles when the electorate is defined by rage.鈥�
鈥淭here was a decision in the 2024 Democratic leadership not to engage in negative advertising at the scale required,鈥� the report states. 鈥淭he Trump campaign and supportive Super PACs went full throttle against Vice President Harris, but there was not sufficient or similar negative firepower directed at Trump by Democrats.鈥�
The report continues: 鈥淚t was essential to prosecute a more effective case as to why Trump should have been disqualified from ever again taking office. The grounds were there, but the messaging did not make the case.鈥�
The DNC appeared to reject these conclusions, adding annotations like “no sourcing or evidence provided.鈥�
Trump’s attack on Harris’ transgender policies was cited as a key contrast.
Specifically, the report suggested the Democratic nominee was 鈥渂oxed鈥� in by the Trump campaign’s 鈥渧ery effective鈥� ad that highlighted Harris’ previous statement of support for taxpayer-funded gender-affirming surgeries for prison inmates.
Democratic pollsters believed that 鈥渋f the Vice President would not change her position 鈥� and she did not 鈥� then there was nothing which would have worked as a response,” the report said.
Democrats can’t exclude rural voters: 鈥楾he math doesn鈥檛 work’
The report criticized Harris’ outreach to key segments of America while condemning the party’s focus on 鈥渋dentity politics.鈥�
鈥淗arris wrote off rural America, assuming urban/suburban margins would compensate. The math doesn鈥檛 work,鈥� the report says. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 lose rural areas by overwhelming margins and make it up elsewhere when rural voters are a significant share of the electorate. If Democrats are to reclaim leadership in the Heartland or the South, candidates must perform well in rural turf. Show up, listen, and then do it again.鈥�
The report also references Democrats’ underperformance with male voters of color.
鈥淢ale voters require direct engagement. The gender gap can be narrowed. Deploy male messengers, address economic concerns, and don鈥檛 assume identity politics will hold male voters of color,鈥� it says.
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AP writer Joey Cappelletti in Washington contributed.
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