Democratic National Committee

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? Harris' speech tonight: "New Way Forward"

A Harris-Walz campaign official tells reporters that Vice President Harris plans to put joy, optimism and patriotism at the center of her acceptance speech at the Democratic convention tonight.

• Why it matters: Harris' joyful warrior approach represents a massive bet that Americans want relief from former President Trump's abrasive style.

? Harris will focus on three points, the official said:

1. Her story: Harris will tell her story of being raised by a working mother in a middle-class neighborhood.

• She'll say that background means she knows the everyday joys and challenges experienced by middle-class families, and shares those values.

2. Project 2025: Contrast her optimistic vision for the future with that of Trump and Project 2025.

• Harris will present a New Way Forward — an optimistic agenda that promises economic opportunity and protects fundamental freedoms.

3. Patriotism: Harris will emphasize her belief in the promise of America, with a deep sense of patriotism and desire to be president for all Americans.

• Also tonight: The Rev. Al Sharpton, pop star Pink.

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DNC TAKEAWAYS Tim Walz positions himself as a cultural representative of Midwestern states Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted his party's nomination for vice president on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention, using his address to thank the packed arena for “bringing the joy” to an election transformed by the elevation of Kamala Harris. While it’s unclear if the speech will attract new voters, he further charmed supporters with his background and helped to balance Harris’ coastal roots. Read more.

Highlights: For years, Republicans have caricatured Democrats as coastal elites who have little in common with ordinary Americans. Walz tried to use his biography as a national guardsman, teacher, football coach and hunter from the Midwest to disarm those attacks, which Republicans in the past have wielded with merciless efficiency. He also made his family’s struggle with fertility a central part of his narrative, a tangible way to connect with voters alarmed at the erosion of reproductive rights in the U.S.   The event’s third night showcased a familiar former president, Bill Clinton, and highlighted plenty of up-and-coming Democratic politicians. Clinton's 27-minute address leaned into what he’s seen over the decades and the burdens of history, warning the convention crowd that, however good they feel, the campaign will be tough.   There was one group that was welcomed with loud applause at both the Republican and Democratic conventions — the parents of young men taken hostage after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7. While the RNC framed Hamas as a threat to the U.S., the DNC has been comparably quiet about the war in Gaza, even as pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated outside the hall demanding the administration stop supporting Israel.

Related coverage ➤  Parents of American held by Hamas appeal for hostages' release during Democratic convention  Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass at first outdoor rally since his attempted assassination  RFK Jr.'s campaign's future in question as Trump allies lobby for endorsement

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DNC

 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepted the vice presidential nomination during his keynote address Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention. He introduced himself as a dad, a coach, a teacher, a hunter, and a neighbor as he outlined how Kamala Harris would lead the country if elected to become the 47th president. The third night of the convention also featured appearances by former President Bill Clinton, who made a forceful pitch for Harris, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said the vice president "is ready to take us to new heights." Oprah Winfrey framed the 2024 election as a fight for freedom and an opportunity to "choose joy." Later today, Harris will close the convention in Chicago with a highly anticipated speech as she accepts her party's historic presidential nomination.

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Why This Former Trump Staffer Spoke at the DNC

The long road that brought me to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last night was a bumpy one. If you caught my speech or have heard my story before, then you know I am a Republican who worked in the Trump Administration.

https://www.welivedit.news/p/why-this-former-trump-staffer-spoke?

DNC live updates: Speculation grows around ‘surprise guest’ on convention’s final night

Vice President Kamala Harris will accept her party’s nomination and offer her policy agenda on the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention.

https://apnews.com/live/updates-democratic-national-convention-harris-walz?

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The ‘joyful’ Democratic convention ends with stark realities coming to light Kamala Harris’ speech on the final night of the Democratic National Convention completed a four-day effort by the party to contend that it is the real change agent. But more than a month after President Joe Biden stepped aside and endorsed her, Harris has barely started to outline detailed plans she would pursue as president to address the nation’s biggest challenges — immigration, crime and climate change, among them. Read more.

Why this matters: Harris has yet to sit down for even one comprehensive interview to face difficult questions about her flip-flops on policy in recent years, her leadership style and the focus on race and gender that looms over her historic candidacy. She has notably dropped her opposition to fracking and her support for Medicare for All, which were defining features of her 2019 presidential campaign. Her aides insist her values remain the same, but she’s embraced more centrist policies out of pragmatism.     In meetings through the convention week, Harris’ advisers have cast her policy agenda as a continuation and expansion of Biden’s first-term achievements. She now has just over two weeks to prepare for what could be her only presidential debate against Donald Trump, a Sept. 10 showdown that could shift the direction of the race. The first debate, of course, effectively forced Biden to drop out.   Harris’ allies acknowledge that she remains largely undefined in the minds of many voters, having operated in Biden’s shadow for much of the last four years. The relative anonymity offers both opportunity and risk.

Related coverage ➤  DNC Day 4 takeaways: Harris' big moment and the Democrats' rising stars  Pro-Palestinian delegates say their request for a speaker at DNC was shut down  RFK Jr. withdraws from Arizona ballot as questions swirl around possible Trump alliance

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DNC

 

Vice President Kamala Harris made history Thursday when she accepted her party's presidential nomination on the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention. Harris' ascension makes her the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major-party ticket. In her keynote address, Harris evoked her experience as the eldest daughter of immigrants and vowed to be president for "all Americans," while describing the November election as the "most important in the life of our nation." Additionally, she promised a tax cut for the middle class, stronger border security and to restore reproductive rights. Her speech also cast former President Donald Trump as the enemy of classic American principles, pointing to Project 2025 as a blueprint of what he would do with a second term.

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Frustrated uncommitted delegates push for Palestinian American speaker as DNC nears end

CHICAGO — Uncommitted delegates Thursday said they will continue their sit-in protest outside the United Center to advocate for a Palestinian American speaker at the Democratic National Convention, as Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to deliver her keynote address on the convention’s final night.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/08/22/frustrated-uncommitted-delegates-push-for-palestinian-american-speaker-as-dnc-nears-end/?

ps:Personally I would've let them speak, and 2nd I'm surprised it didn't happen??

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FACT FOCUS: A look back at some of the questionable claims made during the Democratic convention

Here’s a look at the facts around some of those claims.

https://apnews.com/article/democratic-national-convention-fact-focus-8d0c2455e47bfea7be5d00cf9a21281d?

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Rahm weighs DNC chair

Rahm Emanuel is considering a run for chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Axios' Alex Thompson scoops.

• Why it matters: Emanuel, the former Chicago mayor and current ambassador to Japan, would be vying to take over a party that's in disarray after an election in which Republicans won control of the White House, the Senate and the House.

The current DNC chair, Jamie Harrison, was elected in 2021 and is unlikely to seek a second term, which would begin in March.

• David Axelrod, who steered Barack Obama's campaigns and is a friend of Emanuel, floated earlier this week that the combative and energetic Emanuel would be an ideal leader for a deflated party.
• "If they said, 'Well, what should we do? Who should lead the party?' I would take Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, and I would bring him back from Japan and I would appoint him chairman of the Democratic National Committee," Axelrod said on his podcast, "Hacks on Tap."
• Axe added on X the next day: "There may be others but he is kind of [sui generis]: Dude knows how to fight and win!"

? Since then, some Democrats have been calling Emanuel to encourage him to run.

• In response, he has asked them about what the process is like and whether there's a list of the few hundred DNC members who will elect the next chair, two people familiar with the situation said.
• Emanuel declined to comment.

Several other prominent Democrats are eying the post. They include former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. The race is likely to draw many other candidates.

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DNC union blasts leaders over layoffs

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The union representing workers at the Democratic National Committee blasted the party's leadership following large layoffs over the past several days. "The principles we champion on the national stage have been disregarded in our own workplace," the union said in a statement obtained by Axios' Alex Thompson. Why it matters: Democrats face an internal war after President-elect Trump's decisive defeat of Vice President Harris. The DNC dismissed hundreds of employees this past week. Most of them were only hired to work through the election. But some were considered "permanent" employees who stay on between election cycles. Many DNC employees felt blindsided by the extent of the layoffs, and felt their managers hadn't been upfront with them about the possibility, eight current and recently fired DNC aides told Axios. A DNC spokesperson told Axios: "Every cycle, political organizations scale up to meet the demands, and as the cycle comes to a close, it's a tough reality of our industry that we must part with talented, hardworking staff."

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?️ New DNC chair: Ken Martin

Ken Martin, longtime chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, was elected the new DNC chair, putting him at the helm of a party trying to rebuild its image, Axios' Erin Doherty reports.

• Why it matters: Martin wants to help the party get "back to basics" with a revamped messaging strategy aimed at winning back working-class voters.

Martin beat Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler and half a dozen other candidates.

• Martin platform, bio.

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? Iowa Dems plot caucus comeback

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Iowa Democrats are urging the national party to restore the state's traditional place as the first contest of the presidential primary season — and some are pushing for Iowa's caucuses to be first even if the Democratic National Committee disagrees, Axios' Alex Thompson writes. Why it matters: Iowa returning to the lead-off spot could scramble the 2028 presidential contest and significantly affect who becomes the Democratic nominee. Iowa's caucuses have propelled many candidates to the Democratic nomination, including Barack Obama, John Kerry and Jimmy Carter. Then-President Biden pushed Iowa back on the Democrats' calendar in 2024 and moved up South Carolina, which had sprung him to the 2020 nomination. The fight over Iowa's place on the calendar will provoke arguments involving race, whether the state party can recover from mishandling its 2020 caucuses, and whether Biden's preferences should remain. ? Zoom in: Some potential 2028 Democratic candidates already are sensing that Iowa will be a significant factor again in 2028. In May, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg held a town hall in Iowa that focused on veterans. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz visited the state in March. Between the lines: Many Democrats have argued that Iowa should not go first because the state is more than 80% white and isn't a good representative of the party's diversity. But David Axelrod, who helped lead Obama's upset victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, said that "Iowa made the Obama story possible. So I find it ironic when I hear people suggest that the state's relative lack of diversity should exclude it." "I also think that if Democrats are going to win nationally, they had better figure out how to win beyond the 10% of [U.S.] counties Kamala Harris won in 2024." Keep reading.

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Obama returns to fundraising circuit

Former President Obama is joining DNC chair Ken Martin for a high-dollar fundraiser in New Jersey tonight, Axios' Stef W. Kight has learned.

• Why it matters: It's Obama's first fundraiser since the party's devastating 2024 losses, and comes after a string of public headaches for the DNC leadership team.

The event comes ahead of New Jersey's gubernatorial and state legislative elections in November — viewed as an early bellwether for next year's midterms.

• Outgoing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and his wife Tammy Murphy are hosting the fundraiser, according to an invite obtained by Axios.
• The "dinner and discussion" will include Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill.

? By the numbers: Obama raised $85 million for Democrats last cycle, his office told Axios.

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? Dems fight to be "the new Iowa"

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Democratic Party officials are quietly battling over which state will be the first to vote in the 2028 presidential primary — a fight that's set to break into the open next week when the officials meet in Minneapolis, Axios' Alex Thompson writes. Nevada, New Hampshire and Michigan are currently the frontrunners to be "the new Iowa," and lead off the 2028 Democratic primary season, according to sources familiar with the Rules and Bylaws committee, which will determine the order. Why it matters: The candidate who wins the first state primary gets a boost that can help propel them to the nomination. Potential candidates are already looking into which order of contests could benefit them the most. ?️ State of play: For decades, Iowa's caucuses and New Hampshire's primary kicked off the presidential primary season. But the order of contests has become a free-for-all since Iowa botched its caucuses in 2020, and then-President Biden changed the calendar in 2024. Sources describe these pitches to move up in primary voting: ? Nevada has a strong union presence, is racially diverse, and has a large working-class Latino population at a time when Democrats are losing ground with such voters. It's also a swing state. ?️ New Hampshire has traditionally been an early primary. It's a small state with engaged voters who'll give any candidate a shot. ? Michigan is racially and regionally diverse with a mix of rural and urban residents, and is an important Midwestern swing state with a strong union presence. Go deeper: Arguments against each state.

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? Mapped: Dems' registration crisis

Maps: The New York Times A New York Times analysis found Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single state that allows voters to register with a political party between 2020 and 2024. Why it matters: "That swing helps to explain President Trump's success last year, when he won the popular vote for the first time, swept the swing states and roared back to the White House," The Times' Shane Goldmacher and Jonah Smith write. ? By the numbers: "All told, Democrats lost about 2.1 million registered voters between the 2020 and 2024 elections in the 30 states, along with Washington, D.C., that allow people to register with a political party. (In the remaining 20 states, voters do not register with a political party.) Republicans gained 2.4 million," The Times writes. "That four-year swing toward the Republicans adds up to 4.5 million voters, a deep political hole that could take years for Democrats to climb out from. "All four presidential battleground states covered by the Times analysis — Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — showed significant Democratic erosion." Keep reading (gift link).

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? Mapped: Dems' registration crisis

Maps: The New York Times A New York Times analysis found Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single state that allows voters to register with a political party between 2020 and 2024. Why it matters: "That swing helps to explain President Trump's success last year, when he won the popular vote for the first time, swept the swing states and roared back to the White House," The Times' Shane Goldmacher and Jonah Smith write. ? By the numbers: "All told, Democrats lost about 2.1 million registered voters between the 2020 and 2024 elections in the 30 states, along with Washington, D.C., that allow people to register with a political party. (In the remaining 20 states, voters do not register with a political party.) Republicans gained 2.4 million," The Times writes. "That four-year swing toward the Republicans adds up to 4.5 million voters, a deep political hole that could take years for Democrats to climb out from. "All four presidential battleground states covered by the Times analysis — Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — showed significant Democratic erosion." Keep reading (gift link).

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Harris still costing Dems, literally

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Democrats are still paying for former VP Harris' loss to President Trump last year — literally, Axios' Alex Thompson writes. The Democratic National Committee spent more than $15 million paying off Harris 2024 campaign expenses in the first half of this year. The big picture: Some donors and senior Democrats are angry that Harris' campaign spent an unprecedented $1.5 billion during her 15-week run and still lost all seven swing states. Some hesitate to give the DNC more money. ?Zoom in: The continued payments, and lackluster fundraising, left the DNC with $65 million less cash on hand than the Republican National Committee by July's end. The DNC had $15 million. The RNC — helped along by Trump's and Vice President Vance's fundraising — had $80 million. The intrigue: Democrats have asked Harris to hold more fundraisers and solicit more contributions, but allies believe she's done her part. Harris has allowed the DNC to use her email list to solicit donations, and she's held a few fundraisers. But the total money raised from events is disappointing, according to two people familiar with the matter. The other side: Some allies believe other Democrats are trying to deflect blame from the new DNC chair, Ken Martin. Reality check: It's been standard practice for the DNC to step in financially after a campaign — win or lose. Flashback: Democrats are frustrated by the continued Harris payments in part because her campaign's leadership had said the financial situation was in order. "As of Election Day, there were no outstanding debts or bills overdue, and there will be no debt on either the DNC or [the Harris for President committee] report for post-general report," Patrick Stauffer, the campaign's chief financial officer, told reporters last November. His statement was true, but several million dollars' worth of bills continued to roll in, and the full level of expenses wasn't clear at the time. Some of the bills ended up higher than expected. Harris' campaign also was surprised the race was called on Election Night — and had expected to raise more money as votes were being counted. Go deeper.

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? Scoop: DNC eyes Mamdani playbook

Democratic politicians and activists are quietly lobbying to upend the way the party picks its presidential nominee — by using ranked-choice voting.

• It's a tool that drew national attention when it propelled New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to a decisive primary win.

?️ Driving the news: DNC chair Ken Martin and other top party officials have met privately with advocates who are pushing for the voting method to be expanded for the 2028 primaries, three sources tell Axios.

• Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, Joe Biden pollster Celinda Lake and the nonprofit FairVote Action pitched the idea at a recent meeting, the sources said.

? Zoom in: Supporters say ranked-choice voting — which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference — would prevent people's votes from being "wasted" after presidential candidates drop out and encourage coalition-building among contenders.

• Critics say it would increase waiting times at the polls and be a logistical quagmire. Others argue it would lengthen the primary, for better or worse.

The idea has gotten a mixed response within the DNC.

It would need approval by the party's powerful rules and bylaws committee, and then a majority of the 450-member DNC. States also would have to amend their election laws.

Keep reading.

— Holly Otterbein

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? DNC's hidden '24 autopsy

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Democratic officials and strategists blasted the Democratic National Committee yesterday for withholding its autopsy of the party's loss in the 2024 presidential election, despite repeatedly pledging to release it. Why it matters: Several Democrats — including many advising possible 2028 presidential candidates — said burying the report unfairly helps former Vice President Harris if she runs again, and shields top party consultants by hiding potentially damaging information about their efforts, Axios' Holly Otterbein and Alex Thompson report. ? The DNC interviewed hundreds of people across all 50 states and completed the report. But it abruptly pivoted in recent weeks in choosing not to release it — even a sanitized version for the public. DNC officials said they're keeping the report private to maintain the party's focus on winning back Congress in the 2026 midterms — and avoid further internal conflict over its chaotic 2024 cycle. But several Democratic strategists want it released. "How are Democrats going to learn from mistakes if we don't have any concept of the depth and breadth of those mistakes?" Rebecca Katz, an adviser to Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), told Axios. Lis Smith, a longtime adviser to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, posted on X: "I suspect the reasons why this isn't being released are precisely the reasons why it should be released." ?️ Jon Favreau, co-host of the influential progressive podcast "Pod Save America," wrote: "Unreal. The DNC's actual position is that if the public knew more about what Democrats got wrong in the last election, it would hurt the party's chances in the next election. How does this rebuild trust between the party insiders and grassroots activists and organizers?" Keep reading.

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🎯 New Dem target: Deep Trump country

Data: Dave's Redistricting Atlas, Cook Political Report, AP. (Virginia is currently redistricting.) Table: Axios Visuals Democrats plan to invest in districts that went for President Trump in 2024 by as many as 18 points as they try to retake the House by a decisive margin in November, Axios' Andrew Solender writes. This morning, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee rolled out the first dozen candidates in its "Red to Blue" program, which aims to flip Republican-held districts. Many on the list are perennial targets of the DCCC. But others are relatively new names, such as Reps. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.). Trump won three of these districts by double digits in 2024. The median district voted for the president by 8.5 points. Keep reading.

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😡 Dem infighting erupts

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is coming under fire from unlikely adversaries: Outsider Democratic congressional candidates.

Why it matters: It's a rare moment of internal party infighting spilling out into public view, with candidates raging that the House Democratic campaign arm picked favorites by endorsing a dozen candidates this week.

• "We are six months out from a primary. ... It is absolutely infuriating," said Jason Knapp, a candidate in Virginia's 1st Congressional District whose opponent, Shannon Taylor, was added to the DCCC's list.
• The DCCC on Monday announced a dozen endorsements as part of its "Red to Blue" program, which provides funds and organizational support to select campaigns.

💥 Knapp went so far as to tell us the fallout could threaten to blow back more broadly on Democratic leadership.

• "It's certainly not a way to foster affections," he said.
• Knapp, like dozens of other Democratic primary candidates, declined to commit to supporting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to continue as party leader.

Driving the news: While all the DCCC-endorsed candidates are the fundraising leaders in their respective primaries, most still have at least one opponent.

• A group of 17 Democratic primary candidates running against the "Red to Blue" endorsees put out a joint statement on Tuesday slamming the DCCC.

💪 The other side: "These are all strong candidates, they're the ones who are going to be the general election candidate and they're the ones that we think can win the general election," DCCC chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) said today when asked about the criticism.

— Andrew Solender

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😬 Ken Martin's DNC debacle

Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photo: Chicago Tribune/Getty Images

Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin is facing a growing crisis of confidence within his party, more than two dozen Democrats tell Axios. 💰 Donors, operatives and some DNC members are questioning his leadership, fundraising ability and handling of the party's still-secret "autopsy" of the 2024 election loss. Why it matters: The DNC's dysfunction likely won't affect this year's midterms, and Democrats have overperformed in recent elections. But it could have huge consequences for the party's ability to meet the challenges of the 2028 presidential race. The DNC will play a crucial role in organizing Democrats' 2028 primary and in building the infrastructure for the party's next presidential nominee. But the DNC has been in a perpetual state of near-insolvency, mired by internal finger-pointing since the 2024 election, and Martin hasn't been able to fix the problems. It's not just the usual DNC critics — Martin's allies and would-be allies who want him to succeed say they're increasingly worried and believe he hasn't created space for candid feedback and a course correction. 🔬 Zoom in: Democratic sources tell Axios that Martin has shown a thin skin and that he personalizes criticism in a way that can be self-defeating. Many DNC officials, donors, and other Democrats believe honest feedback would be greeted with hostility. Thirteen months into his tenure as DNC chair, the limelight — and the criticism that has come with it — appear to have taken a toll on Martin, who often seems melancholy and put-upon, his allies told Axios. There's also been internal frustration about Martin's reliance on longtime allies from Minnesota, whom some insiders refer to as the "Minnesota Mafia." Some Democrats say Martin hasn't grown to trust many people in the DNC office and has become more insular in recent months. National Democrats also say Martin has a habit of over-promising and under-delivering. He frustrated many party leaders last fall by promising much more money to Virginia and New Jersey for their elections than the party was able to afford. The party made historic investments, but the exaggerated commitments annoyed many national Democrats. As recently as January, Martin was still privately pushing the idea of a midterm Democratic convention despite being advised that he was committing money that the party didn't have. The DNC recently canceled its midterm convention plans. Martin told those inside the DNC this wasn't because of the expected costs, but because state parties wanted to focus on this year's primaries instead. Many Democrats agree on one thing: The DNC chair's first priority is fundraising, and Martin is falling short on that. The DNC has teetered on the edge of insolvency during the past year. It has about $15 million cash on hand but is more than $17 million in debt. Last October, the DNC took out $15 million in loans to help keep the committee afloat. Leaders privately have discussed the possibility of limited layoffs in the coming months. A DNC official told Axios the committee has no plans for staff layoffs. Some Democrats have bristled at Martin's media-heavy schedule while the party is struggling financially. Several donors told Axios they met with Martin or had a call with him early in his tenure, but haven't heard from him since. Would-be allies say Martin has held a grudge against donors who opposed him in the race for chair last year. One donor who didn't support Martin put it bluntly: "He needs all of us, and he's not asking us to do anything." 📣 What they're saying: DNC spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said Martin "has invested early and aggressively in the Democratic Party's infrastructure .... Winning now, in 2028, and for years to come is the DNC's North Star. Anything else is just gossip and noise." Reality check: It's always difficult for a party chair to raise money in the first year after the party loses the White House, as Democrats did in 2016 and 2024. Martin had good fundraising initially, but he's been burdened by a $20 million-plus debt from Kamala Harris' campaign. Donors and activists are angry about Donald Trump's return to the presidency, and the DNC is often a convenient punching bag. 🗳️ Despite the swipes at Martin's leadership, Democrats have been winning up and down the ballot over the past year. The party has benefitted from rage over Trump's policies, and Martin has invested a large amount of money in state parties. — Alex Thompson, Holly Otterbein

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😡 Part 2: Dems' "autopsy" furor

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

⚡️ Few issues will set off Martin's critics more quickly than his handling of the DNC's "autopsy" report on the 2024 campaign. They say it was a debacle that reflects larger problems with his leadership that need to be addressed before the presidential campaign officially starts next year. Allies advised Martin not to do an autopsy or promise to publicize it, but he did both. Martin entrusted his confidante Paul Rivera with the task despite Rivera's lack of experience on recent presidential campaigns. Some people interviewed for the report said the process felt disorganized, and that Rivera appeared to tell people what they wanted to hear when he interviewed them. 🤨 Many Democratic campaign and super PAC leaders from the 2024 presidential race told Axios they never spoke with Rivera. Late last summer, Rivera's team made hasty attempts to contact some top Democrats before the report's intended release. After repeated delays on one of his signature promises, Martin said in December he wouldn't publish the report — infuriating many Democrats and teams for potential 2028 candidates. 💵 It also further alienated some donors. "You spent donor money to do the autopsy and then didn't provide" it, one told Axios. "It's not your money." Between the lines: People briefed on the report told Axios there essentially are two versions: a large "Frankenstein monster" of documents that includes interviews without any narrative or through-line, and a shorter, vague document that's similar to what Democrats have said publicly. Martin hiding the document has made it an object of fascination among activists who believe it includes details the DNC is hiding for nefarious purposes. 🫵 Martin argued in December that releasing the report would result in more finger-pointing and wouldn't help the party move forward. Many of his allies agree. Even now, few people outside of Martin's inner circle have read the autopsy, but he says its recommendations are being implemented. Read more. — Alex Thompson, Holly Otterbein

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Gallego boosts DNC's Martin

🌵 Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego gave a boost to embattled Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin on Friday at a private fundraiser in Salt Lake City, people familiar with the senator's remarks told Axios.

Why it matters: Gallego, a potential 2028 presidential contender, praised Martin at a time when many Democrats are worried about Martin's leadership — and as others eyeing the White House have spurned requests to give more help to the DNC.

• 🙏 "Thank you for your leadership," Gallego told Martin while speaking at the DNC's biannual National Finance Committee retreat with some of the party's biggest donors.
• "Thank you for your belief in this party at a moment when a lot of people are tempted to get discouraged," Gallego said.

Gallego also praised the DNC's new "When We Count" program to register new voters in key districts.

• "It reflects a lesson a lot of us have learned the hard way: You cannot parachute into communities two months before an election and expect to win," Gallego said. "That is what chair Martin understands."
• Two other potential 2028 presidential candidates, Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, also attended the retreat to help rally donors to the DNC.

💰 Between the lines: The fundraising retreat comes as the DNC faces large financial challenges.

• The committee has more than $17 million in debt and about $15 million on hand.
• Many big donors have stayed on the sidelines during the past year, citing disappointment with the 2024 election results and being underwhelmed by Martin's first year as chair.

Read more.

— Alex Thompson

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✝️ A straight, white, Christian man

Illustration: Sarah Grillo / Axios

🤫 Some top Democrats are quietly debating a fraught question: whether the party's best bet for winning back the presidency in 2028 is to nominate a man — perhaps a straight, white, Christian man. Their fear, divulged with dismay in group chats, at cocktail parties and increasingly in public, is that parts of the electorate are too biased to support a woman or other diverse candidate for president. Former first lady Michelle Obama fueled such talk recently, saying the U.S. is "not ready for a woman." Democratic strategists have put it bluntly, with several saying a version of "It has to be a white guy." 🏞️ The big picture: The Democratic Party takes pride in being a champion of women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and religious minorities. Electing Barack Obama, the nation's first Black president, was the high point for the party's goal of boosting diversity in the executive branch. But falling short twice to President Trump — both times with women on the ticket — has left some Democratic leaders, donors and strategists deeply pessimistic about what voters will accept now. 🗣️ Most of these conversations have unfolded in private, but a striking number of Democrats have begun voicing their concerns more openly, exposing a larger debate within the party over electability. Michelle Obama pushed the discussion into public view in November, saying the U.S. has "got a lot of growing up to do, and there's still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman." South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn told NBC that the former first lady was "absolutely correct," adding that women should keep running anyway. On "The View" last year, former President Biden blamed sexism and racism for former Vice President Harris' loss to Donald Trump in 2024. 📖 In her book, "107 Days," Harris talked about the hurdles she faced — and how they affected her running-mate selection. She wrote that before tapping Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her top choice was then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who's gay. He "would have been an ideal partner — if I were a straight, white man," Harris said. "But we were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man," she said. "Part of me wanted to say, 'Screw it, let's just do it.' But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk." But Harris told the New York Times in December that "I do believe the country is ready" for a female president. State of play: Not many women are seen as weighing presidential campaigns in 2028, though Harris, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are widely believed to be doing so. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is another possible candidate, though some insiders think she's unlikely to run. Many of the men seen as possible 2028 contenders aren't white Christians. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel are Jewish. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego is Latino. California Rep. Ro Khanna is a Hindu of Indian descent. And New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore are Black. Besides Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are white Christians, though Newsom has called himself an "Irish-Catholic rebel." ✅ Reality check: Skeptics of the chatter say blaming some Americans' intolerance for Hillary Clinton's loss in 2016 and Harris' in 2024 could be a too-convenient way for the party to avoid dealing with its own divisions and shortcomings. Several potential 2028 contenders have pushed back on the notion that the country isn't tolerant enough. "They have no idea what they are talking about," Khanna told us of Democrats who think women and other diverse candidates can't win. "The data says otherwise." Harris "got the same white votes as Barack Obama," Khanna said. "What she lost in white men, she made up in white women. But we didn't win as many Latino Americans, Asian Americans, Black men or young voters." "I love Michelle Obama," Whitmer told NPR, but "I think America is ready for a woman president." Buttigieg told Politico that "the way that you earn trust with voters is based mostly on what they think you're going to do for their lives, not on categories." Shapiro, on the "Higher Learning" podcast, said that "America's ready to elect a woman, a Black person, a gay person, a Jewish person or whatever." "What America wants is someone who's going to get sh*t done for them." Read more. — Holly Otterbein, Alex Thompson