The Democratic party plans to dissect what exactly went wrong in the 2024 presidential election – with two glaring exceptions in the analysis.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has commissioned an ‘after-action review’ that will not scrutinize the timing of President Biden’s decision to step aside just before the election, according to sources informed about the findings shared with The New York Times.
This review will also avoid evaluating whether Kamala Harris was the optimal choice to succeed Biden after his poor debate showing against President Donald Trump, as reported by those briefed on its progress.
It won’t look into her campaign or the decision by staffers to frame it as a choice between democracy and fascism.
According to officials, the review is set to focus on the election in general rather than on the campaign specifics. It will concentrate on actions taken by party-affiliated groups, especially examining the role of super PACs that supported Biden and Harris’s campaigns.
The Times reported that blame would be thrown at Future Forward, the party’s main super PAC.
Those briefed on its contents said that the group, who spent $560 million to support the two presidential hopefuls spent too much propping up Harris and not on attacking Trump.
The group’s advertising approach is to be criticized as being too focused on television programs and not effective.
The ‘after-action review’ commissioned by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) won’t probe the timing of Biden’s decision to stand down last year
Six people briefed on the progress also told the outlet that it will steer clear of finding out whether Harris was the best pick to replace Biden
DNC spokesperson Rosemary Boeglin told the outlet: ‘The DNC’s post-election review is not a finger-pointing exercise, it’s about bringing together Democrats across the ecosystem to adopt an actionable playbook to win, not just for 2026 and 2028, but to dominate for cycles to come.
‘Democrats are clear-eyed about the challenges facing the party—many of which are rooted well before the 2024 cycle—and it requires all of us to make structural changes in how we run campaigns.’
The review was started in March and has not yet been finalized, it is expected to be released this fall.
After Trump won the election and made his return to the White House, Biden has continued to face questions over his mental decline while in office.
The 82-year-old is facing a Republican led investigation probing the extent of the Democratic president’s decline was understood by his top staffers.
The investigation has focused on former staffers who would be privy to the most sensitive presidential discussions and his use of an autopen to sign documents.
Biden has denied the claims being pushed by Trump that he did not have the focus to make decision as president.
He told The Times: ‘I understand why Trump would think that, because obviously, I guess, he doesn’t focus much. Anyway, so – yes, I made every decision.’
After Trump won the election and made his return to the White House , Biden has continued to face questions over his mental decline while in office
While being questioned by lawmakers, Biden’s personal physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, and Jill Biden’s longtime aide Anthony Bernal, have all pleaded the fifth amendment protections in recent weeks.
Oversight Chairman James Comer noted that there’s a pattern beginning to emerge after Biden’s former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser Annie Tomasini also pleaded the fifth this week.
‘There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,’ Comer wrote.
‘Annie Tomasini, former Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations, pleaded the Fifth when asked if Joe Biden, a member of his family, or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie regarding his health at any time.’
She also pleaded the fifth when asked about classified documents being found in Biden’s garage, if the former president instructed anyone to destroy or conceal classified documents at the Democrat’s home or if she’s conspired with anyone to hide information on the Biden family’s business affairs, Comer shared. The Kentucky Republican said this is a ‘historical scandal.’
