The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has released a critical post-election autopsy of the party's 2024 campaign performance, bowing to intense internal pressure from frustrated operatives. Chair Ken Martin published the 192-page report on Thursday, which was completed in December 2024 by Democratic consultant Paul Rivera.
The report calls for a renewed focus on Middle America and the South, stating that millions of voters in these regions feel excluded from the Democratic vision. It highlights issues such as poor access to healthcare, manufacturing and job losses, and failing infrastructure, which the report says lead voters to act against their own interests.
The autopsy also points to reduced support and training for state Democratic parties, voter registration shifts, and a persistent failure to listen to all voters. The release comes as Martin faces a crisis of confidence among party officials concerned about the health of the political machine.
In a Substack message, Martin apologised for his handling of the report, explaining that it was not ready for release when he received it and that fixing it would have required starting over. He admitted that his decision to shelve the report to avoid distraction had instead created a bigger distraction.
Democratic strategist Steve Schale criticised the delay, asking why the report was not completed earlier or supplemented with more resources, calling the resulting media cycle 'the dumbest' for months.
