Flawed DNC autopsy fuels calls for Martin to resign
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Democrats released a report examining their 2024 losses that has drawn criticism for being incomplete and raising more questions than answers. Party leaders and potential 2028 contenders are debating its implications.
PoliticalOS
Friday, May 22, 2026 — Politics
The DNC’s own review of 2024 remains contested and incomplete, leaving party leaders without a shared diagnosis or clear path forward. Martin’s position has become the immediate flashpoint, yet the deeper question is whether Democrats will translate private adjustments into a coherent public message before 2026 and 2028.
What outlets missed
Most coverage noted the report’s disclaimers but did not quote or summarize the specific rebuttal annotations that appear throughout the text. Few outlets examined the precise sequence of Martin’s December decision to withhold the document after off-year election wins or the role of Shapiro’s reported phone call in forcing release. Fundraising comparisons were presented without historical cycle benchmarks or Democratic explanations for the gap. The report’s 192-page length and the author’s subsequent separation from the DNC received uneven attention across accounts.
Democrats face renewed questions about their direction after the party released a 192-page review of its 2024 losses that party leaders themselves described as inadequate. The document, titled “Build to Win. Build to Last,” arrived months later than promised and carried disclaimers on every page stating that its findings reflected only the author’s views and could not be verified by the DNC. Chair Ken Martin apologized for the delay and for the report’s shortcomings, yet the release has intensified internal criticism rather than resolving it.
Martin had commissioned the review in January 2025 after Kamala Harris lost every battleground state to Donald Trump. He initially withheld the document, telling members in December that the party had already absorbed its lessons. Pressure mounted from figures including Harris and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, prompting Martin to release the unedited draft on May 22, 2026. He told members the author, strategist Paul Rivera, is no longer affiliated with the committee.
The report contains multiple factual errors, including an incorrect claim that a Capitol Police officer was beaten to death on Jan. 6, 2021. It notes an “enthusiasm gap” and criticizes the Biden operation for failing to support Harris after she became the nominee, but it omits discussion of Israel and Gaza as well as Biden’s age. Editorial notes throughout flag missing sourcing and contradictions with public data.
Critics inside the party quickly labeled the document a distraction. Former DNC vice chairman David Hogg called it “a demoralizing joke” and urged Martin to resign. Other Democrats, including unnamed members, questioned whether Martin would remain through the summer. Supporters pointed to his handling of routine chair duties and argued that no single leader can replace a missing national message.
Fundraising data released alongside the controversy showed the DNC with roughly $14 million cash on hand in recent months, well below the RNC’s totals. Some members said the episode risks diverting attention from Trump administration actions on Iran, energy prices, and other issues ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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