Kamala Harris loses 2024 election as insiders blame ‘arrogant’ campaign strategy and staff

Democratic insiders criticize Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign, citing strategic missteps and staff disconnect.

Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic insiders who attribute her defeat to former President Donald Trump to strategic errors and campaign staff they deemed “out of touch.”

Harris, who replaced President Joe Biden on the ticket in late July, initially gained traction with a significant fundraising advantage, raising nearly $1 billion in six weeks. However, she ultimately failed to connect with voters in key swing states, leading to a decisive loss.

Campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, along with Obama-era advisers David Plouffe and Stephanie Cutter, are under scrutiny for misjudging the issues that resonated with voters. While Trump focused on inflation and immigration, Harris’s campaign leaned heavily on themes like abortion rights and democracy preservation. Critics from within the party argued that Harris’s message and staff failed to address economic concerns and rising inflation, issues directly impacting Americans.

“The staff were disconnected from real Americans,” shared a source close to the campaign, citing a preference among staff for progressive language and identity terms like “Latinx” that didn’t resonate with voters. Furthermore, insiders criticized the campaign's extensive reliance on traditional field programs like door-knocking, while Trump focused on targeted outreach and digital ads.

Several sources also pointed to Biden’s delayed decision to step aside as a factor limiting Democratic options, with figures like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper seen as stronger potential candidates. Amid the backlash, Harris is set to deliver her concession speech at her alma mater, Howard University, later today.