In what’s shaping up to be a tough year for the Democrats, the Democratic National Committee has admitted that its assessment, or “autopsy,” of the 2024 presidential election revealed significant failures. Surprisingly, they’ve opted not to address the missteps in Kamala Harris’s campaign or the vulnerabilities of former President Joe Biden.
It’s reminiscent of performing an autopsy on John F. Kennedy but only focusing on his legs. Just like Kennedy’s feet weren’t responsible for his demise, it’s clear that Harris didn’t falter solely because of independent spending.
It’s almost amusing that the DNC thinks it can conduct a thorough self-assessment while sidestepping the core issues the party faces. In many ways, they mirror the broader Democratic Party, leaning heavily on placating their internal factions instead of facing reality head-on.
Let’s break down the Democratic Party’s “free autopsy.” It all kicks off with Biden. The excessive praise from his media supporters has always seemed overdone. Essentially, many voters viewed him as a moderate Democrat who was palatable enough in 2020. But for decades, he has often stumbled over his words and failed to stand firm on principles.
Now, with an aging Biden, it feels like he’s clinging on to power long after his prime. This has really been a significant concern for Democrats in 2024.
While Jake Tupper and the media elite may have been taken in by what the White House projected, ordinary voters clearly were not.
By January 2022, not long after his inauguration, a majority of Democrats felt Biden shouldn’t run again. And that sentiment hasn’t faded—about 30 months later, as Biden’s departure became more evident, he faced a barrage of poor polling and negative headlines.
For instance, YouGov asked people in September 2022 if Biden should run in 2024, and the overwhelming response was a resounding “No!” With 59% of voters opposing his candidacy, the view was shared across demographics, showing a significant lack of support for him moving forward.
Even when Trump’s campaign began to take shape, and some Democrats rallied around Biden, his approval ratings stayed weak. By January 2024, YouGov showed that 58% of voters opposed his reelection, including a striking 55% margin among independents.
While the MSNBC pundits might think Biden was performing well, the general public clearly disagreed. The same January 2024 poll found that 55% believed Biden’s age negatively impacted his capability to serve, with 73% of independents feeling he was a weak leader.
Put simply, voters seemed to be urging Biden to step down. The signs were clear and consistent.
Maybe Democrats could have still pulled off a win without Biden if they had focused on the real issues that mattered to voters. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Inflation became, by far, the leading concern. Polling from YouGov in September 2022 indicated that inflation topped the list of issues for 20% of the general public and 23% of independents, overshadowing other concerns by a significant margin. By August 2024, inflation had climbed even higher, with many voters rating it as their top priority.
Biden, Harris, and the Democrats didn’t just overlook inflation—they outright failed to address it effectively. As per the same YouGov poll, Biden’s handling of inflation led to a net approval rating that was deeply negative, particularly among independents.
Instead, Biden and the Democrats frequently engaged with their core base, focusing on issues like abortion and climate change that resonate more with liberals. While these are important to their supporters, they just don’t seem to resonate as strongly with the broader public. For independents, these issues lagged significantly behind inflation.
Inflation poses a structural dilemma for progressive policies. The left has historically struggled with economic issues, and now they find themselves unable to effectively combat inflation. The solutions that could work, like reducing fiscal stimulus and deregulation, have been sidelined by their far-left base.
This leads us to the primary dilemma for the Democrats and their various factions: they exist in a bubble of denial and misunderstanding. The public has been vocal about their preferences for over two years, yet Biden and his circle seem to have ignored this feedback.
Team Biden’s failure to recognize voter sentiment is alarming. If Democrats continue to cater only to their base—one that does not align with the concerns of the majority—they are likely to struggle in future elections. Enhancing social media presence won’t help if they are out of touch with issues that matter to voters. After all, a “man strategy” emphasizing abortion, climate change, and privilege won’t resonate with many.
For nearly a decade, Democrats have become a group largely united by their opposition to Trump. They have two more elections—the 2026 and 2028 cycles—to redefine themselves. If they can’t pivot and address the pressing concerns of the electorate, the 2029 autopsy might mark the end of their political viability.
