Quick Hit:

Jaime Harrison, the outgoing chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), believes his party made a mistake by abandoning Joe Biden in the 2024 race. In an interview, Harrison reflected on the Democrats' loss to Donald Trump and suggested that Kamala Harris did not have enough time to campaign after Biden exited the race.

Key Details:

• Harrison expressed regret over the party’s decision to move on from Biden, arguing that Democrats should have stood by him despite his disastrous debate performance.

• He suggested Harris lacked the runway to mount a strong campaign, noting that the party had spent years building infrastructure for Biden, not a late-stage replacement.

• Harrison criticized the DNC’s role, saying it should not function merely as an extension of the nominee’s campaign, but instead be an independent force shaping party strategy.

Diving Deeper:

In an interview with the Associated Press, outgoing DNC chair Jaime Harrison reflected on the party’s decision to replace Joe Biden and what it meant for their loss to Donald Trump. Harrison, a longtime party operative, argued that Democrats should have remained loyal to Biden, stating, “That’s my normal default, is that you stick by your people, right, particularly people who have worked hard on behalf of the party.” He claimed Biden had been a highly successful legislative president and had devoted considerable resources to strengthening Democrat campaigns nationwide.

Harrison also suggested that the abrupt shift to Kamala Harris left the party scrambling. He admitted that while the general election campaign had been structured around Biden, the sudden transition forced Harris into a difficult position. “Had she had more runway, it would have been probably easier for her and for the campaign,” Harrison said. He pointed to factors like the economy and discontent over the Israel-Gaza conflict playing a role in key battleground states, leading to what he described as "little nicks here and there" that cost Harris the election.

Looking ahead, Harrison advised his successor to ensure the DNC maintains some independence rather than simply following the nominee’s campaign directives. “The DNC shouldn’t just be a rubber stamp,” he warned, expressing frustration that the committee was often blamed for campaign failures while lacking power to make critical decisions. He also emphasized the importance of better engagement with Black and Latino voters, warning that Democrats should not take these constituencies for granted.

As for his own future, Harrison, who previously ran for Senate in South Carolina, did not rule out another political run. He hinted at a potential effort to revive the Democratic Party’s fortunes in the South, saying, “I think I’m going to spend my time doing that.”