Vice President Kamala Harris’ unexpected loss to Donald Trump in the 2024 election has sparked anger and frustration among Democrats. Critics blame the party’s failure to address concerns over President Joe Biden’s cognitive fitness, with many questioning why he stayed in the race until his exit in July.
Harris’s campaign initially focused on inclusivity and change, struggled due to her loyalty to Biden and a lack of a distinct vision. Voter support shifted notably among younger and female voters, who turned toward Trump, a worrying sign for the party.
Biden, 81, has said privately he thought he was the only Democrat who could beat Trump, and vowed publicly that he was fit to be president for another four years. When he dropped out of the race in July, he said he had decided it was “in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down.”
Biden’s announcement in April 2023 that he would run for reelection was greeted with skepticism by many Democrats, but likely potential challengers quickly agreed to join his campaign as advisers, rather than challenge him.
A Democratic official blamed “malpractice” on Biden’s inner circle. “No one would tell him ‘no’,” the official said, criticizing the White House communications and political teams. “So it’s Joe, but also Joe’s core apparatus. Stunning and well-documented chickens coming home to roost.”
The defeat, following divisions over foreign policy, especially regarding Israel, has led to calls for a complete party reboot. Despite the loss, Harris remains committed to the causes that fueled her campaign, delivering her concession speech at Howard University.
