DNC chair minimizes November losses, argues Democrats have ‘robust’ foundation

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jaime Harrison minimized his party’s losses up and down the ballot in November and argued Democrats have a “robust” foundation to build on, going into President-elect Trump's second term in the White House and the subsequent election cycle. 

Harrison, who decided not to seek reelection for the top DNC post, wrote in a Tuesday memo to party leaders and donors that Democrats fended off a greater defeat compared to other countries’ incumbent parties that were dealt losses.

Additionally, he said the party’s politicians nationwide are “committed” to pushing back against Trump’s second-term agenda. He asked the party’s backers for continued financial support to ensure the DNC can “organize and communicate” that agenda's “extremism” to voters. 

“Although Democrats did not achieve what we set out to do, Trump wasn’t able to capture the support of more than 50 percent of the electorate and Democrats beat back global headwinds that could’ve turned this squeaker into a landslide,” Harrison wrote in the nine-page memo, which was shared with The Hill. “Among democracies that held elections in 2024, incumbent parties lost seats or vote share 80 percent of the time. In most of these countries, the margin for opposition party wins far exceeds that of the United States.” 

The Democratic Party establishment has come under heavy criticism internally, including from some progressives who have argued the party has ignored working-class voters. 

Harrison, who has shot back at the criticisms from progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), highlighted wins by Democrats in Senate races, despite the party losing the majority. 

He promoted Sen.-elect Elissa Slotkin's (D) win in Michigan over former Rep. Mike Rogers (R); Sens. Jacky Rosen's (D-Nev.) and Tammy Baldwin’s (D-Wis.) successful reelection bids and Sen.-elect Ruben Gallego (D) knocking off Trump-backed Republican Kari Lake in the battleground state of Arizona. 

In this year’s general election, Trump won all seven swing states and captured the popular vote against Vice President Harris. The president-elect made gains in historically Democratic strongholds and expanded his coalition, particularly with younger voters and people of color while doing better with union members. The GOP held a slim majority in the House while securing the Senate majority.

Harrison, who has served in the post since early 2021, also touted the party’s wins in House races and argued the GOP majority in the lower chamber is the smallest either side has had “in nearly 100 years.” 

“2024 proved we already have a robust foundation on which to build,” Harrison said in the memo. “Notable down-ballot wins in 2024 provide us with a roadmap on what works and where investments mattered most, while the success of statewide ballot measures to safeguard the rights and interests of working people this November shows voters are ready to take action in the face of the GOP’s extreme attacks on reproductive freedom, labor and education.” 

Harrison showcased North Carolina as an example of the DNC’s early investments “making a difference,” with the party securing wins in gubernatorial, lieutenant governor and attorney general contests. 

“The results were clear: In addition to breaking the Republican supermajority in the legislature, Democrats won statewide elections across the ballot,” he said. 

In the memo, Harrison, a veteran of South Carolina politics, pointed to some ballot measures’ outcomes as evidence that voters “are taking action in the face of the GOP’s extreme attacks on reproductive freedom, labor and education.”