DNC Report Finds Biden’s Gaza Policy Undermined Harris’ Campaign Support
Top Democratic officials who participated in the party’s internal review of the 2024 election defeat stated Kamala Harris lost significant backing due to the Biden administration’s approach to the conflict in Gaza.
The Democratic National Committee has not released its public report on the 2024 election loss, reflecting concerns about potential internal repercussions from the findings. Internal analysis revealed a deep divide among liberal and moderate Democrats over Israel, with many progressives more critical of Israeli actions in Gaza and opposed to U.S. support for the country.
During her brief campaign, Harris sought to strike a balance by expressing support for Israel while advocating for a ceasefire and showing sympathy for Palestinians in Gaza and hostages held by Hamas.
According to DNC aides, representatives from the IMEU Policy Project—a pro-Palestinian advocacy group—told committee officials that the administration’s stance on Israel reduced support among young voters and progressive Democrats. The group claimed the DNC’s own data identified this policy as “a net-negative” in the 2024 election.
Hamid Bendaas, an IMEU Policy Project spokesperson, stated during closed-door meetings with DNC officials that the committee acknowledged its findings regarding the administration’s impact on the election. However, DNC spokesperson Kendall Witmer denied withholding the report due to findings related to Israel. The DNC confirmed it engaged with the IMEU Policy Project and hundreds of other stakeholders in its analysis but provided no additional details.
When asked for comment, a Harris campaign aide referenced the former vice president’s remarks at a recent book tour event where she stated, “We should have done more as an administration” and added that she had privately “pleaded” with President Biden to show greater empathy for civilians in Gaza. The aide noted that Harris avoided publicly breaking with the president over Israel during her campaign despite criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct in the conflict.
