Why Democrats are blaming Biden for Harris’s defeat against Trump in 2024 US Presidential election

In a bitter blow to the Democratic Party, Vice President Kamala Harris’s was defeated by Donald Trump in the 2024 US Presidential election, an outcome that has left the party in turmoil. Once seen as a fresh, hopeful challenger, Harris’s campaign ultimately failed to capture the momentum needed to overcome Trump, even as the GOP front-runner faced numerous legal and political challenges. In the wake of her defeat, many Democrats are looking to President Joe Biden’s leadership and decisions as key factors in Harris’s loss, raising questions about the future direction of the party.

A failed campaign strategy & Biden’s shadow

As per a report in TOI, Harris’s defeat has sparked widespread criticism from within the Democratic Party.

Many party leaders are pointing to her campaign’s inability to excite key voter blocs and its failure to distance her candidacy from Biden’s policies.

A former campaign aide argued that Harris’s alignment with Biden’s approach ultimately hurt her prospects.

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“Her loyalty to Biden placed her at odds with potential voters looking for a fresh direction,” the aide said. The vice president’s assertion during an appearance on ABC’s The View that she “wouldn’t have done anything differently than Biden” only deepened frustrations among Democrats hoping for bold, independent leadership.

Despite being seen as Biden’s natural successor, Harris struggled to win over the very base that was once expected to rally behind her—progressive youth, women concerned about abortion rights, and diverse communities passionate about climate change. Key voter groups failed to show up in the numbers necessary to secure victory, leaving many to question whether the party’s message had become too closely tied to the status quo.

Biden’s exit: Too little, too late?

The turning point in the election came with Biden’s unexpected exit from the race. After announcing his bid for re-election in April 2023, Biden’s physical and mental fitness had been under constant scrutiny. The president’s confidence remained unwavering, even in the face of skepticism.

“I am fit to serve,” Biden insisted, determined to show that he was the only Democrat capable of defeating Trump.

However, a fateful debate in June raised concerns about Biden’s mental acuity, prompting him to step down from the race in July. In his exit speech, Biden framed his decision as being in the best interest of both the party and the nation. But for many within the Democratic Party, the timing of Biden’s departure felt like a critical misstep.

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A prominent Democratic donor expressed frustration with Biden’s delay, saying to Reuters, “Why did Joe Biden hold on for as long as he did? He should have not concealed his (health) and dropped out a lot sooner.” Another major Democratic donor, hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, echoed the sentiment, accusing the party of deceiving the public about Biden’s health. “The party lied to the American people about the cognitive health and fitness of the president, and then didn’t hold a primary to replace him,” he said.

According to Politico, as per interviews with nearly a dozen officials and party insiders, Biden’s delay in exiting the race ultimately hampered Harris’s ability to make a compelling case to voters in the final stretch of the campaign.

Biden’s decision to remain in the race despite growing doubts about his mental and physical fitness, culminating in a disastrous performance on the debate stage, has fueled anger and frustration among Democrats. Many believe that by the time Biden chose to pass the torch in July, it was too late to reverse the party’s fortunes. “He saddled Harris with too many challenges and too little time to turn things around,” said one Democratic strategist.

Internal party divisions & missed opportunities

As the race unfolded, internal divisions within the Democratic Party began to surface. Some Democratic National Committee (DNC) officials expressed deep frustration, blaming Biden’s advisors for failing to take decisive action earlier. “They never told him no,” one official lamented, suggesting that Biden’s close circle had mishandled his campaign and failed to prepare the party for a potential change in leadership.

The party’s disarray became even more apparent as the election approached. While Harris attempted to fill the void left by Biden’s exit, she struggled to distinguish herself from his administration. Many voters were searching for an alternative vision, but Harris’s campaign could not present a clear break from Biden’s policies. Her loyalty to the president, while admirable to some, became a liability for others who were desperate for a fresh direction in the face of Trump’s rise.

Trump’s continued appeal & battle for suburban voters

Despite facing ongoing legal issues and controversial policy proposals—including across-the-board tariffs that experts warned could hurt American consumers—Trump’s campaign found ways to connect with key swing voters, particularly in suburban regions and among Hispanic communities. Issues like immigration, especially Trump’s promise of mass deportations, resonated deeply in battleground states like Georgia and North Carolina, where Democrats had hoped to make gains.

Divisive issues & party fragmentation

Further complicating Harris’s campaign were divisive issues that splintered the Democratic Party, such as Biden and Harris’s stance on US support for Israel during the Gaza crisis. The decision to maintain a pro-Israel position during the conflict alienated progressive factions within the party, exacerbating the sense of disunity and undermining Harris’s efforts to unify the party under a singular vision.

On election night, as returns began to trickle in, Democratic voters were left deflated and disillusioned. Many had hoped for a closer race, but Harris’s defeat was swift and definitive. One DNC official remarked, “They feel lied to,” suggesting that the party’s leadership had failed to deliver on the promises of change that had been so central to Biden’s campaign rhetoric in 2020.

Harris concedes, but the fight continues

By Wednesday afternoon, the results were undeniable. Harris made a brief, somber appearance at Howard University to deliver her concession speech, thanking Biden and vowing that while she was conceding the election, she would not concede the fight that had fueled her campaign. “While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said, signaling that the ideological battles within the party were far from over.

With inputs from agencies.