WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Democratic Party is grappling with a significant reckoning following their losses in the 2024 presidential election. Experts predict that the party and its leaders, including former President Barack Obama, will face intense scrutiny and demands for accountability.
The tumultuous election saw the Democratic Party rally around both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as their nominees at different times, with Obama’s endorsement. However, the political landscape shifted dramatically with a single tweet from Biden in July, as Obama and his allies worked tirelessly to steer the party towards an electoral victory on November 5.
President-elect Donald Trump secured a decisive win last month, amassing 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226. The media has described this as a “historic political comeback” that has shaken the Democratic establishment, forcing them to pivot and prepare to combat Trump’s policies in his second term.
Democratic strategist Julian Epstein told Fox News Digital, “I think there are going to be big demands for a greater reckoning. The Democratic politburo – Obama, Pelosi, Schumer, Jeffries, and others – all participated in the obvious lie that Biden was capable of a second term, in the anti-Democratic move to install a wholly untested Vice President Harris. And in lacking the courage for the past four years to stand up to a progressive left whose policies are far out of touch with most voters.”
Criticism of Obama and his circle has intensified, with some accusing them of failing to understand why Democrats lost the election. This month, Obama delivered a speech at the 2024 Obama Democracy Forum, which earned him a headline on MSNBC reading, “Obama still doesn’t get why Trump won. That’s the problem.”
An op-ed argued that Obama, despite his rhetorical skills and political communication talent, failed to grasp why his eight years in power culminated in the rise of Trump. The piece suggested that the first step to better respond to Americans’ demand for change from the status quo is to stop listening to Barack Obama.
The Democratic Party and Harris’ campaign have faced criticism from allies like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for moving away from working-class voters while Trump rallied their support. Harris was also criticized for featuring Hollywood celebrities and musicians during her campaign rallies, which were seen as tone-deaf amidst Americans’ struggles with inflation and ongoing wars in Israel and Ukraine.
The party is now in the midst of a reckoning over the failed election efforts, which saw the White House and Senate flip red while the House remained under GOP control. An op-ed in the Washington Post criticized Harris’ advisers for not admitting any major mistakes they made during the campaign.
As the Democratic Party navigates this challenging period, the focus will be on addressing the internal divisions and strategizing for future elections.