Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), is facing mounting calls to resign over his mishandling of an autopsy report on Kamala Harris's defeat by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Martin suppressed the document for months before finally releasing it on Thursday under internal pressure. The slapdash nature of the report, which omitted Joe Biden's decision to run for a second term and failed to mention the words 'Gaza' or 'Israel,' has deepened a crisis of confidence in his leadership.
Congressional Calls for Resignation
Democratic members of Congress have publicly called for Martin to step down. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts told Axios, 'He should resign,' citing 'his lack of leadership.' Moulton added that it is 'utterly nuts it took us this long to release the autopsy.' Marc Veasey of Texas warned about the upcoming midterm elections, telling Semafor, 'There doesn’t seem to be a plan to turn things around and the clock is ticking. November is literally around the corner… I believe it’s time for him to move on.' Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, on the Thom Hartmann Program, agreed with a caller who argued Martin should go, saying, 'I agree… Having what we have right now is not doing it.'
Wider Criticism from Strategists and Activists
Tommy Vietor, a former spokesman for President Barack Obama, posted on X: 'If he’d done this in the first place and not lied about why it hadn’t been released, things might be different. As it stands, this raises more questions about his judgment, candor and ability to lead the DNC.' Emily Amick, a Democratic strategist and former counsel to Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, stated, 'Ken Martin has lost the confidence of the party and voters across the country who have been moving away from the Democratic party cycle after cycle. I question how we can move forward with him at the helm of the presidential primary process without that trust.' She added, 'There was seemingly no oversight of this report, and Ken saw it last year and did nothing to remediate it. His handling of the report throughout this process was an embarrassment and a damning indictment of his ability to run the DNC.'
Details of the Flawed Autopsy Report
Both major parties have historically commissioned autopsies after losses to explore lessons learned. Martin assigned the report to Paul Rivera, a Democratic consultant and friend of over 20 years, on a part-time, unpaid basis. Rivera’s report found that Democrats ceded ground to Trump and Republicans through under-funding of state parties and a 'persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.' It criticized Democrats' focus on 'identity politics' and warned that Latino voters, especially younger men, can no longer be assumed as a reliable part of their base. However, the 192-page document includes a disclaimer on each page stating it 'reflects the views of the author, not the DNC,' and notes highlight inaccuracies and conclusions offered without evidence.
Martin's Apology and Defense
In a statement accompanying the release, Martin admitted the report 'does not meet my standards, and it won’t meet your standards' but said it was published to restore trust. He claimed he withheld the report after Democratic victories in Virginia and New Jersey to avoid distraction but acknowledged the decision only created a larger one. 'For that, I sincerely apologise,' he wrote. The explanation failed to appease critics amid broader concerns about Martin’s fundraising capabilities compared to his Republican counterpart.
Grassroots and Progressive Outcry
Norm Solomon, co-founder of RootsAction, called the situation 'a shambles. Stunningly third rate. You wouldn’t even turn this in as an undergrad paper and expect to get a passing grade at a college with standards.' He added, 'Unfortunately, at every stage of the algorithm that unfolded, Martin took the wrong turn.' Amanda Litman, head of Run For Something, posted: 'Ken Martin is not up to the task of being DNC chair – the most important part of which is preparing to run the presidential primary process with trust & competency – and should resign.' David Hogg, founder of Leaders We Deserve, stated: 'Ken Martin should resign, and the DNC should select a new leader who demonstrates competence, creativity, moral clarity, and a relentless commitment to actually changing the broken Democratic party brand.'
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) surveyed 1,207 members and found 95% want Martin to step down following the autopsy release. The PCCC announced a campaign to drive public phone calls to Democratic state chairs urging them to call for Martin’s resignation. Maria Langholz, PCCC’s director of strategic campaigns, said: 'The DNC autopsy fiasco is bigger than one bad report. It reflects a deeper distrust of the entire Democratic establishment that continually circles the wagons around weak leadership and out-of-touch ideas.'
Support and Potential Successors
Despite the outcry, Martin still has prominent supporters on Capitol Hill, including former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and congressman Jonathan Jackson, according to Axios. Speculation about successors has already begun. Litman told the Associated Press she was approached but declined. Other names include Jane Kleeb, president of the Association of State Democratic Parties, and Ben Wikler, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic party, who lost to Martin in the DNC election and is about to publish a book. Politico reported that several strategists floated former Montana senator Jon Tester for his fundraising ability, but when contacted, Tester replied, 'Get the hell out of here. Are you on illegal substances?'
