A newly released Democratic National Committee autopsy of its 2024 election loss reveals a stark truth: the party systematically failed working-class Americans by prioritizing establishment candidates over voters who feel the economy is rigged. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., delivered this assessment on Meet the Press, stating Democrats “too often ran status quo establishment candidates” who refused to challenge an economic system he described as unfair and broken for ordinary families.

The report, delayed months by DNC Chair Ken Martin, included a disclaimer claiming it did not meet his standards and could not independently verify its claims. This approach fueled internal party crisis, with elected Democrats and operatives demanding Martin’s resignation over mismanagement of the document. The autopsy itself focused on infrastructure, voter registration, and state-party support while ignoring progressive social issues that alienated voters—including DEI initiatives, transgender athletes in girls’ sports, border policies, and Kamala Harris’s campaign baggage—issues former Democratic donor John Morgan identified as central to the party’s loss.

Morgan argued the report missed what voters already understood: a rejection of culture-war radicalism, economic hardship, and border chaos. He stated Democrats did not need a lengthy analysis when their messaging failed to address these realities. Khanna emphasized the need for an economic message targeting “working-class people who have been shafted,” underscoring that the party’s failure to connect with this group remains its deepest crisis.