{"id":2682,"date":"2026-05-23T11:39:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/23\/democratic-chair-faces-calls-to-quit-over-shambles-of-election-autopsy-release\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T11:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:39:54","slug":"democratic-chair-faces-calls-to-quit-over-shambles-of-election-autopsy-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2682","title":{"rendered":"Democratic chair faces calls to quit over \u2018shambles\u2019 of election autopsy release"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"b1309866-9a8e-462a-8cef-fbd42398d9cf\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ken Martin gestures with his finger raised while speaking in an office setting\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/0fcc024a1683602ee7c4ad3cdcb80aeb53fb2355\/0_0_8450_5633\/master\/8450.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"309.98165680473375\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Ken Martin, the DNC chair, at an event in November.<\/span> Photograph: Bill Clark\/CQ-Roll Call\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"b1309866-9a8e-462a-8cef-fbd42398d9cf\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Ken Martin, the DNC chair, at an event in November.<\/span> Photograph: Bill Clark\/CQ-Roll Call\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Democratic chair faces calls to quit over \u2018shambles\u2019 of election autopsy release<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>DNC\u2019s Ken Martin condemned for suppressing report for months and then admitting it \u2018won\u2019t meet your standards\u2019<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/democrats-2024-election-autopsy\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Democrats belatedly publish 2024 election autopsy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, is facing mounting calls to resign over his shambolic handling of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/democrats-2024-election-autopsy\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">an autopsy report<\/a> on Kamala Harris\u2019s defeat by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Martin suppressed the document for months before finally bowing to internal pressure and releasing it on Thursday. The slapdash nature of the autopsy, omitting Joe Biden\u2019s decision to run for a second term and failing to mention the words \u201cGaza\u201d or \u201cIsrael\u201d, has only deepened a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/pressure-dnc-chair-ken-martin-builds-questions-handled-2024-autopsy-rcna346413\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">crisis of confidence<\/a> in his leadership.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Democratic members of Congress have called for Martin to stand down. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/05\/22\/dnc-autopsy-ken-martin-2024-resign-democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told the Axios news site<\/a>: \u201cHe should resign,\u201d because of \u201chis lack of leadership\u201d. Moulton added that it is \u201cutterly nuts it took us this long to release the autopsy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Marc Veasey of Texas sounded an alarm ahead of the midterm elections, telling the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nicholaswu12\/status\/2057575282286952549?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Semafor site<\/a>: \u201cThere doesn\u2019t seem to be a plan to turn things around and the clock is ticking. November is literally around the corner \u2026 I believe it\u2019s time for him to move on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, appearing on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/0pShIRS8RLs\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the Thom Hartmann Program<\/a>, said in response to a caller who argued that Martin should go: \u201cI agree \u2026 Having what we have right now is not doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Other voices have joined the chorus. Tommy Vietor, a former spokesman for President Barack Obama, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TVietor08\/status\/2057469008333738494?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">posted on X<\/a>: \u201cIf he\u2019d done this in the first place and not lied about why it hadn\u2019t been released, things might be different. As it stands, this raises more questions about his judgment, candor and ability to lead the DNC.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emilyinyourphone.com\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Emily Amick<\/a>, a Democratic strategist and former counsel to Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, said in a statement: \u201cKen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">She added: \u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Both major parties have in the past commissioned autopsies following losses to explore what lessons should be learned, including interviewing party leaders, activists and donors and analysing spending and messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Martin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/22\/opinion\/dnc-autopsy-ken-martin.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">assigned the latest report<\/a> to Paul Rivera, a Democratic consultant and friend he has known more than 20 years, on a part-time and unpaid basis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Rivera found that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Democrats<\/a> ceded ground to Trump and Republicans through under-funding of state parties and a \u201cpersistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters\u201d. It criticised Democrats\u2019 focus on \u201cidentity politics\u201d and warned that they can no longer assume that Latino voters, especially younger Latino men, are a reliable part of their base.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But the 192-page document includes a disclaimer at the top of each page stating that it \u201creflects the views of the author, not the DNC\u201d, and notes appended throughout highlight inaccuracies as well as conclusions offered without evidence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In a statement accompanying the botched release, Martin said it \u201cdoes not meet my standards, and it won\u2019t meet your standards\u201d but was being published to restore trust in the party. He wrote he had withheld the report after last November\u2019s Democratic victories in Virginia and New Jersey to avoid distraction but acknowledged the decision only created a larger one. \u201cFor that, I sincerely apologise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The explanation cut little ice with Democratic campaign groups amid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/03\/08\/dnc-ken-martin-crisis\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">broader concerns <\/a>about Martin, who has struggled to keep up with his Republican counterpart as a party fundraiser.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Norm Solomon, a co-founder of the online activist group RootsAction, said by phone on Friday: \u201cIt\u2019s a shambles. Stunningly third rate. You wouldn\u2019t even turn this in as an undergrad paper and expect to get a passing grade at a college with standards. Unfortunately, at every stage of the algorithm that unfolded, Martin took the wrong turn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He added: \u201cI don\u2019t think this is hindsight. It\u2019s common sense if you want a project to encompass the scope of the problem and suggest sufficient solutions you don\u2019t give it to one guy who happens to be your friend and then let it sit when garbage is submitted. You deal with the fact that it needs a vast overhaul and you don\u2019t accept the idea that the source material remains a mystery.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Amanda Litman, who leads the Democratic-allied organisation Run For Something, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/amandalitman\/status\/2057529442780529088?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">posted<\/a>: \u201cKen Martin is not up to the task of being DNC chair \u2013 the most important part of which is preparing to run the presidential primary process with trust &amp; competency \u2013 and should resign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">David Hogg, founder of Leaders We Deserve, a grassroots organisation focused on electing young progressives, said in a statement: \u201cKen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) carried out an overnight <a href=\"https:\/\/link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com\/ls\/click?upn=u001.IbS88REy0LictXnOkvlvWvJ5PontGX7bMYEq7WURg-2Bty2616EfZANk-2Fua7VpRxziaPlw-2Bf2Ax7CRs70HVPmus6OlBDyJtH4kavO2CC0jul5QqZfVIDnJ9acp-2B-2FYH99AiTTCV_bf4JG6rVotaFp8XsYJMcbJfioizxoiq-2Fqxyutbjh0J6VFnnbrxfRSj2Enh3scfnOCy2QQ9WIdyfmUXTbV219VtGGRTWbVs3uO5MA-2BOW5M8nrqrNisRQHgz-2FtMW6-2FL8uHOsXMebAT7Wt2Y7PGAk-2FHFq9toCzzh2qAoFFfP75t-2B5P069I-2BfZPowxq6gOsDC7M7IwmeHIhO4yWpIrUgZsrhRhMyfh8mDNynBSlVe6yqj-2Bjma4sx-2FoevN2kPqOQCg5QpKzbfyD1gPGsoGK7wzj4W237pPE8MAG7JrUPomWjUDDBW-2BDSRht8lQBeCwDjwDK0xPnadygkaiYOGD4lQWJN9q8JlfNliYzwQDVBeOVDlF2GCfHNe-2FHnQMiRcz4jOTDqDs-2Bhew-2FlC6J9YbGsFlhTkqg-3D-3D\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">survey<\/a> of 1,207 members and found that 95% want Martin to step down following the autopsy release. The PCCC said it will launch a campaign to drive <a href=\"https:\/\/link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com\/ls\/click?upn=u001.IbS88REy0LictXnOkvlvWlQfaIPte-2F6p37mhyzFJq7DEAH-2F8eClGw-2BTuXAkQtkcSaQWf_bf4JG6rVotaFp8XsYJMcbJfioizxoiq-2Fqxyutbjh0J6VFnnbrxfRSj2Enh3scfnOCy2QQ9WIdyfmUXTbV219VtGGRTWbVs3uO5MA-2BOW5M8nrqrNisRQHgz-2FtMW6-2FL8uHOsXMebAT7Wt2Y7PGAk-2FHFq9toCzzh2qAoFFfP75t-2B5P069I-2BfZPowxq6gOsDC7M7IwmeHIhO4yWpIrUgZsrhRhMyfh8mDNynBSlVe6yqj-2Bg6N5VMIKgW-2BqIKGhKyjffUr-2FkbfOGqidGb3LF0e-2B1aDW-2FH57mhqh-2BIbD2qmpeI5iDxpKVpRYfsyR8Gs5qnja4SqKxUmILYM7m9g-2F3k0SbGk6NsdoVugpOUfm8qfKdwNC1t4CQIbsM4qdUb59Fo9Xn8XXycEt4zyhDQdViutJ693Q-3D-3D\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">public phone calls<\/a> to Democratic state chairs urging them to call on Martin to resign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MariaLangholz\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Maria Langholz<\/a>, the PCCC\u2019s director of strategic campaigns, said: \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe same political instincts that elevated Ken Martin also defended Joe Biden running for a second term, protected corporate PAC money at the DNC, and put fingers on the scale for uninspiring establishment candidates over the change candidates like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/ng-interactive\/2026\/may\/18\/maine-senate-susan-collins\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Graham Platner<\/a> and Abdul El-Sayed that voters are hungry for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Martin still has prominent supporters on Capitol Hill including former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and congressman Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, Axios reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But speculation is already turning to potential successors. Last week Litman <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/democratic-national-committee-martin-democrats-midterms-9caf0c6b0e5e7c1c7a716ae1263908ae\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told the Associated Press<\/a> that she had been approached by senior strategists gauging her interest in replacing Martin but said no.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Other names might include Jane Kleeb, president of the Association of State Democratic Parties, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/profile\/ben-wikler\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Ben Wikler<\/a>, former chair of the Democratic party in Wisconsin, who lost to Martin in the DNC election last year and is about to publish a book, This Is The Plan: How to End America\u2019s Meltdown and Save Democracy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Politico website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/playbook\/2026\/05\/22\/pod-save-nobody-00933436\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">reported that several strategists<\/a> floated former Montana senator Jon Tester for his \u201cfundraising ability and plain-spoken appeal with the middle of the country\u201d, but when Politico called Tester, he replied: \u201cGet the hell out of here. Are you on illegal substances?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/democrats\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/kamala-harris\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Kamala Harris<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Democratic%20chair%20faces%20calls%20to%20quit%20over%20%E2%80%98shambles%E2%80%99%20of%20election%20autopsy%20release&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/23\/dnc-chair-ken-martin-democrats-election?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F23%2Fdnc-chair-ken-martin-democrats-election&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/23\/dnc-chair-ken-martin-democrats-election\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ken Martin, the DNC chair, at an event in November. Photograph: Bill Clark\/CQ-Roll Call\/Getty Images View image in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2682\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}