DNC Releases Long-Awaited 2024 Election Autopsy on How Democrats Lost, With Disclaimer on Every Page

Updated on: May 22, 2026 / 12:01 AM EDT / CBS News

DNC Releases Long-Awaited 2024 Election Autopsy on How Democrats Lost, With Disclaimer on Every Page

TL;DR

  • The DNC released a 192-page autopsy of the 2024 election after months of internal pressure.
  • The report states it reflects the author's views, not the DNC's, and that the committee could not verify many claims.
  • Democratic strategist Paul Rivera authored the report but is no longer working for the DNC.
  • The document contains numerous errors, missing sources, and internal notes questioning its content.
  • The report blames the Biden campaign operation for failing to effectively support Kamala Harris after she became the nominee.
  • It also notes the failure to effectively highlight Trump's negatives and criticizes the handling of an attack ad against Harris.
  • DNC chair Ken Martin apologized for the delay in releasing the report, which he initially withheld to avoid creating a distraction.