The report’s release follows intense internal pressure from frustrated Democratic staffers to publicly demand the release of post-election autopsy results.
NEW YORK — Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin released a critical study of the party’s performance in the 2024 race on Thursday, bowing to intense internal pressure from frustrated Democratic staffers who have publicly called for the release of post-election autopsy results.
The 192-page report, completed in December and written by Democratic consultant Paul Rivera, called for “a renewed focus on voters in the middle and south of the country who have come to believe that they are not included in the Democratic Party’s vision of a stronger, more vibrant America for all.”
“Millions of Americans are suffering from failing health care, manufacturing and unemployment, and infrastructure failures, yet they are still persuaded to vote against their best interests because they do not believe they are represented in Democratic America,” the report said.
The autopsy revealed reduced support and training for Democratic states, changes in voter registration and a “continued inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.”
The report comes as Martin faces crisis of confidence Less than a year into his tenure, party officials are increasingly worried about the health of their political machine.
In a Substack message at the time of the report’s release, Martin apologized for his handling of the report’s release.
“When I received this report late last year, it wasn’t ready for prime time. Not even ready. And because no source material was provided, fixing it meant starting from scratch — every conversation, every interview, every data set,” Martin wrote.
“Last December, I announced that we were shelving this report, and what I said then was what I meant – I don’t think dwelling on 2024 or looking back this late is going to help us win elections. At the end of the day, winning elections is my job,” he continued. “Simply put, I didn’t want to cause a disruption. Ironically, in doing so, I ended up causing an even greater disruption. For that, I sincerely apologize.”
The initial reaction from frustrated Democrats was less than positive.
“Why not say this in 2024, or bring in more people to do it, instead of turning it into the stupidest media cycle for 7-8 months?” Democratic strategist Steve Schaal wrote on social media.
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