Nancy Pelosi’s criticism of the Biden administration’s campaign strategy adds fuel to the turmoil within the Democratic Party after Kamala Harris’s electoral defeat.
At a Glance
- Kamala Harris lost the election to Donald Trump, who won both the electoral and popular votes.
- Nancy Pelosi critiques the Biden administration’s approach and its effect on Harris’s candidacy.
- Pelosi suggests Biden’s late exit stifled a more open Democratic primary.
- Internal conflict within the Democratic Party intensifies after Harris’s loss.
A Defeated Campaign
Vice President Kamala Harris suffered a significant electoral defeat against President-elect Donald Trump, who secured key battleground states, capturing both the electoral college and popular votes. The outcome was decisive, avoiding the usual post-election recounts and lawsuits. Blame for this defeat has created friction among Democrats, with Bernie Sanders criticizing the party for losing focus on the working class.
Nancy Pelosi, however, defended their stance on working-class issues. She contended, “With all due respect, and I have a great deal of respect for him [Sanders], for what he stands for, but I don’t respect him saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned the working class families.”
.@SpeakerPelosi suggested Vice President Kamala Harris lost the general election due to President Joe Biden's late exit from the presidential race and bemoaned the lack of an open primary. | @dezward01 https://t.co/NDbsegFvIs
— National Review (@NRO) November 10, 2024
Pelosi’s Critique
Nancy Pelosi’s criticism is focused on the procedural decisions surrounding Harris’s candidacy. Pelosi pointed out that Biden’s late departure from the primary race hampered the possibility of a broader slate of candidates. Pelosi emphasized, “Had the president [Biden] gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race.”
Pelosi had reportedly urged Biden to step down earlier, anticipating that his delayed exit could potentially stifle the party’s competitiveness. The endorsement of Harris almost immediately following Biden’s withdrawal further solidified her as the only plausible nominee in the eyes of many Democrats.
Internal Party Dynamics
The internal blame game continues as components within the Harris and Biden campaigns reportedly turned against each other after the loss. Democrat insiders express their frustration in the open, leveling accusations and defenses at each other. Meanwhile, some analyses pointed to Harris’ choice of running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as a possible misstep. A faction within the party argued for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a more strategic choice.
Pelosi has also been criticized for labeling the nominating process as undemocratic and has been at the center of much social media outrage. In hindsight, she reflected speculatively on whether Harris could have fared better in an uncontained primary competition free of hasty endorsements.
