The once hopeful outsider Vice President Kamala Harris, who entered the race as a last-minute challenger to Republican front-runner Donald Trump in the US election, was defeated by a margin that made even experienced party leaders doubt the future direction of the Democratic Party.
Harris' defeat has sparked criticism and anger among Democrats, with some blaming her campaign strategy while others pointing the finger at US President Joe Biden's leadership.
Biden, 81, had announced his candidacy for re-election in April 2023 despite widespread skepticism about his health and ability to lead. However, his confidence was unshakable. “I am fit for service,” he had said, determined to prove that he was the only Democrat capable of defeating Trump.
But a fateful debate in June called into question his intellectual acumen and ultimately led him to drop out of the race in July, citing the good of the party and the nation.
For some, Biden's exit came too late. A prominent Democratic donor voiced his disapproval, telling Reuters: “Why did Joe Biden last so long? He shouldn’t have hidden his (health condition) and got out much earlier.”
Longtime Democratic donor and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said: “The party lied to the American people about the president's cognitive health and fitness and then failed to hold a primary to replace him.”
As party members scrambled to get behind Harris, internal criticism of Biden's inner circle surfaced, with one official lamenting “misconduct” by Biden's advisers. “They never told him no,” they reportedly said.
While Harris has stepped into the void as Biden's loyal successor, her alignment with his policies may have proven to be her weak point. A former campaign aide said Harris' loyalty to Biden put her at odds with potential voters looking for a new direction. Her remark on ABC's “The View” that she wouldn't have done anything different than Biden stoked critics who said she had failed to present herself as an agent of change.
“The party needed someone willing to take bold, independent positions,” the adviser was quoted as saying by Reuters, pointing to global examples such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recalibrated his immigration policy in response to pressure from the right.
Supporters Harris had hoped would join her, particularly younger, diverse voters passionate about climate action and progressive ideals as well as women concerned about abortion rights, did not turn out in expected numbers. Trump also drew support in suburban areas that once trended blue, as well as among Hispanic voters and in states like Georgia and North Carolina where Democrats believed they could hold their own. Some Democratic National Committee officials reported receiving a wave of discontent from party members on election night, citing frustration with a campaign that they said had raised false hopes. “They feel lied to,” a DNC official said, pointing out that many party members had expected a closer race.
The defeat represents the Democrats' second devastating loss to Trump in recent years and brings back memories of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. Although Trump has faced legal problems and proposed controversial measures, including blanket tariffs, that economists warn will harm the American could harm consumers, Trump still managed to convince undecided voters. His campaign leveraged concerns about immigration and promised mass deportations, which resonated in a way that Harris's inclusive platform could not match.
Contentious issues such as Biden and Harris' stance on U.S. support for Israel during the Gaza crisis, which divided progressive Democrats from the party's mainstream, contributed to the setbacks.
On election night, crowds gathered outside Harris' alma mater, Howard University, in anticipation of a lengthy count. But on Wednesday afternoon the result was clear. Harris arrived at Howard to give a short, celebratory concession speech in which he thanked Biden and vowed: “While I concede this election, I do not admit the fight that fueled this campaign.”
(With agency input)