When a party loses a presidential election, the aftermath is marked by a slew of analysis and deep dives, often referred to as a “post-mortem” or “autopsy,” aimed at determining what exactly went wrong and how to improve the outcome four years later.
Many of these reviews are unofficial and handled by political organizations, media outlets, and advocacy groups. However, from time to time, the major parties conduct an internal review using all available data. The Republican National Committee conducted well-known autopsies following 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney‘s loss to former President Barack Obama, outlining several ways the party needed to improve to increase its chances of winning.
The Democratic National Committee carried out a similar autopsy following President Donald Trump’s electoral and popular vote win over former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. The difference with this report, however, is that the public won’t get to see it, as the DNC has refused to release it, similar to one produced by the House Democrats’ campaign arm after Trump’s initial win in 2016, against the 2016 Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.
Ironically, DNC Chairman Ken Martin promised to conduct an autopsy for the 2024 election, criticizing the decision not to release the 2016 report. Now, however, he has done a complete 180-degree turn.
In a statement released in late December, Martin said, “In our conversations with stakeholders from across the Democratic ecosystem, we are aligned on what’s important, and that’s learning from the past and winning the future. Here’s our North Star: does this help us win? If the answer is no, it’s a distraction from the core mission.”
According to a CNN report, officials involved in the review were concerned that releasing it would only inflame internal party tensions at a time when Democrats have started to notch some wins. Gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey have buoyed the party. A Democrat was elected mayor in Miami for the first time in nearly 30 years. More than two dozen House Republican Conference members have announced they will not seek reelection, including Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who not only said she will not run again but also dropped out of the New York governor’s race.
Add in Trump’s continued sagging poll numbers, and Democrats appear to be in a prime position for gains in 2026 and perhaps the 2028 presidential election. So why are they afraid to release the post-mortem of the 2024 election, especially after the 2024 Democratic ticket of Harris and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) burned through $1.5 billion in just 15 weeks?
The concern about “inflaming party tensions” is revealing and offers some insight. While Democrats frequently say they are “united,” the only thing truly uniting them is a shared animosity toward Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the current administration. Beyond that, divisions run deep, centered on the strained relationship between the party’s establishment wing and its progressive wing.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) remains influential within the party, and more progressive members of Congress, such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), the latter of whom entered the primary to run for the Senate in Texas, have continued to grow their influence, often to the detriment of more traditional Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
The recent government shutdown, which lasted more than 40 days, occurred in part because progressive Democrats demanded that party leaders, including Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), maintain a strategy of holding out. As the shutdown dragged on, it began to affect government workers, SNAP payments, and small businesses, prompting more centrist Democrats to break with the party to reach an agreement.
Progressives ultimately labeled the deal that reopened the government “a betrayal.” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) took direct aim at Schumer, saying he “is no longer effective and should be replaced.”
The autopsy likely reveals deep divisions among Democratic legislators, and between lawmakers and voters, over priorities, policies, and strategy. Those divisions include:
Immigration and border security — While the Trump administration’s methods have come under scrutiny and even some supporters are critical of deportation efforts, the Republican position remains more popular with voters. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party favors a more hands-off approach, similar to that of former President Joe Biden’s administration, which proved politically disastrous.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict — The issue is so divisive that some progressive Democrats are calling for a primary challenge to Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), a progressive Democrat. Fetterman’s offense? He has been a staunch defender of Israel, particularly in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks. While he votes with progressives on most issues, for some activists and Democrats, that is no longer enough.
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Cultural issues and party image — The Democratic Party has increasingly been seen as “out of touch.” Its focus on “gender-affirming care,” transgender rights, the preservation of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and aggressive language policing has created an image of a party disconnected from average voters, particularly working-class and swing voters.
Chances are, Martin does not want this internal battle to play out in public. Yes, it would be a distraction, but it is also a problem that will not disappear with off-year election wins or narrow margins in the 2026 midterm elections. These issues will still be there in 2028. Refusing to address them now almost guarantees they will resurface when Democrats begin announcing their presidential ambitions in early 2027.
Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) is a writer living in West Virginia.