top of page

Democrat Chair Candidate Blame Racism as Cause for Harris Loss

Staff Writer

As Democrats grapple with Kamala Harris’ 2024 defeat, candidates for DNC Chair are blaming racism and misogyny—even as Trump made historic gains among Black and Hispanic voters.



Candidates vying for the position of **Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair** unanimously agreed that **racism and misogyny** played a role in **Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 election loss**, despite growing minority support for President-elect **Donald Trump**.


During a forum moderated by MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart, all eight contenders—including **former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson**—raised their hands when asked if racism and sexism contributed to Harris’ defeat.


“Okay. So… That’s good, you all passed,” Capehart quipped, seemingly affirming their response.


Harris lost to Trump on Nov. 5, 2024, as the former president secured over 270 electoral votes, flipping key battleground states that Biden won in 2020. However, Trump’s victory was largely fueled by **a significant increase in support from Black, Hispanic, and Asian voters—a reality that clashes with the DNC candidates’ assertion that racism was a key factor.


According to CNN’s 2024 exit polls, Trump captured:

- 46% of the Hispanic vote (up from 32% in 2020)

- 40% of the Asian vote (up from 34% in 2020)

- 13% of the Black vote (up from 12% in 2020, and 8% in 2016)


These gains marked a historic shift in voting patterns, with minority voters increasingly rejecting the Democratic Party’s messaging and policies under Biden and Harris.


While many Democrats and media outlets rushed to blame racism for Harris’ defeat, her struggles with voters predated the general election. Polls consistently showed her unpopularity, and she failed to gain traction in key swing states, even after President Joe Biden dropped out in July 2024 and endorsed her candidacy.


Harris faced persistent questions about the economy, as inflation surged over 20% since she and Biden took office in 2021. Her campaign also struggled to present her as a fresh alternative to Biden, while her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, was largely absent from public view.


Despite spending over $1.5 billion on the campaign, Harris ultimately lost Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania—all states that Biden won in 2020.


As Democrats look ahead, the DNC chair race is shaping up to be a battle over the party’s future strategy. While contenders focus on racism and misogyn as key reasons for Harris’ loss, the data suggests a different challenge—the party’s weakening grip on minority voters and its failure to address economic concerns.


With Trump making historic gains among Black and Hispanic voters, the Democratic Party now faces a critical question: Will it reassess its message, or continue blaming external factors for its losses?

bottom of page