Author of DNC's 2024 "autopsy" says he concluded Gaza war hurt Harris
The author of the Democratic National Committee's 2024 election "autopsy" confirmed an Axios report that he concluded the war in Gaza hurt Kamala Harris politically — and that he'd privately shared that assessment with a pro-Palestinian group.He said he drafted that finding late last year but never submitted it to party leadership.Why it matters: Democrats have spent months debating whether the Biden administration's support for Israel during its war on Hamas contributed to Harris' defeat.Moderates disputed its electoral significance, while progressives argued that the toll of Israel's war on Gaza civilians drained support from young people, liberals and Arab Americans.Zoom in: Paul Rivera, who wrote the DNC autopsy, told Axios in an interview that his review of the 2024 election found the war in Gaza cost Harris votes, particularly in Michigan communities with large Arab American populations, such as Dearborn.Rivera, who no longer advises the DNC, this week published his own 564-page report of the 2024 election, which examines the electoral impact of the war in Gaza, among other topics.When the DNC released its autopsy earlier this year, some Democrats criticized it for omitting any discussion of the war in Gaza.In his new document, Rivera concludes that Harris lost tens of thousands of votes in Michigan amid backlash from the Israel-Hamas war, particularly in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck, where Green Party support surged as activists organized against the Democratic ticket.He contends these losses accounted for a meaningful share of the state's shift toward President Trump, but was only one of several factors behind Harris' defeat in the state.Rivera wrote that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the fallout from it in the U.S. is a "complex situation." But, he added, the "political analysis is simple — the electoral results and voting shifts in Michigan and elsewhere demonstrate the impact the crisis had on the Harris campaign."Rivera included in his new report an AP photo of a person holding literature distributed in Michigan in 2024.
Reported by 1 outlet — Axios. See all sources ↓
The author of the Democratic National Committee's 2024 election "autopsy" confirmed an Axios report that he concluded the war in Gaza hurt Kamala Harris politically — and that he'd privately shared that assessment with a pro-Palestinian group.He said he drafted that finding late last year but never submitted it to party leadership.Why it matters: Democrats have spent months debating whether the Biden administration's support for Israel during its war on Hamas contributed to Harris' defeat.Moderates disputed its electoral significance, while progressives argued that the toll of Israel's war on Gaza civilians drained support from young people, liberals and Arab Americans.Zoom in: Paul Rivera, who wrote the DNC autopsy, told Axios in an interview that his review of the 2024 election found the war in Gaza cost Harris votes, particularly in Michigan communities with large Arab American populations, such as Dearborn.Rivera, who no longer advises the DNC, this week published his own 564-page report of the 2024 election, which examines the electoral impact of the war in Gaza, among other topics.When the DNC released its autopsy earlier this year, some Democrats criticized it for omitting any discussion of the war in Gaza.In his new document, Rivera concludes that Harris lost tens of thousands of votes in Michigan amid backlash from the Israel-Hamas war, particularly in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck, where Green Party support surged as activists organized against the Democratic ticket.He contends these losses accounted for a meaningful share of the state's shift toward President Trump, but was only one of several factors behind Harris' defeat in the state.Rivera wrote that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the fallout from it in the U.S. is a "complex situation." But, he added, the "political analysis is simple — the electoral results and voting shifts in Michigan and elsewhere demonstrate the impact the crisis had on the Harris campaign."Rivera included in his new report an AP photo of a person holding literature distributed in Michigan in 2024. It read, "Do Not Vote Trump. Do Not Vote Genocide."He called it "a warning and a reminder of the stakes for Democrats moving forward."At the same time, he acknowledged that Jewish Americans have faced increasing antisemitism in the U.S.
Read the full report at Axios ↗
Why it matters
A world story we're tracking; its significance and source trust firm up as more outlets confirm it.
- What's the story?
- The author of the Democratic National Committee's 2024 election "autopsy" confirmed an Axios report that he concluded the war in Gaza hurt Kamala Harris politically — and that he'd privately shared that assessment with a pro-Palestinian group.He said he drafted that finding late last year but never submitted it to party leadership.Why it matters: Democrats have spent months debating whether the Biden administration's support for Israel during its war on Hamas contributed to Harris' defeat.Moderates disputed its electoral significance, while progressives argued that the toll of Israel's war on Gaza civilians drained support from young people, liberals and Arab Americans.Zoom in: Paul Rivera, who wrote the DNC autopsy, told Axios in an interview that his review of the 2024 election found the war in Gaza cost Harris votes, particularly in Michigan communities with large Arab American populations, such as Dearborn.Rivera, who no longer advises the DNC, this week published his own 564-page report of the 2024 election, which examines the electoral impact of the war in Gaza, among other topics.When the DNC released its autopsy earlier this year, some Democrats criticized it for omitting any discussion of the war in Gaza.In his new document, Rivera concludes that Harris lost tens of thousands of votes in Michigan amid backlash from the Israel-Hamas war, particularly in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck, where Green Party support surged as activists organized against the Democratic ticket.He contends these losses accounted for a meaningful share of the state's shift toward President Trump, but was only one of several factors behind Harris' defeat in the state.Rivera wrote that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the fallout from it in the U.S. is a "complex situation." But, he added, the "political analysis is simple — the electoral results and voting shifts in Michigan and elsewhere demonstrate the impact the crisis had on the Harris campaign."Rivera included in his new report an AP photo of a person holding literature distributed in Michigan in 2024.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 7.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 10m ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
Here's how each outlet is covering the story — compare their headlines and timing at a glance.
- Coverage card1 outlet1CoverageScouting report
Author of DNC's 2024 "autopsy" says he concluded Gaza war hurt Harris
Sources1TypeCoverageAxios