DNC releases 2024 autopsy, with chair apologizing for ‘creating an even bigger distraction’

BREAKING NEWSMay. 21, 2026, 2:30 PM UTCPolitics NewsPolitics NewsDNC releases 2024 autopsy, with chair apologizing for ‘creating an even bigger distraction’DNC chair Ken Martin had been pummeled in public for months after he promised to release the report and then reversed course in December.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in 2025.Bill Clark / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Natasha KoreckiDemocratic National Committee chair Ken Martin on Thursday released the party’s autopsy report on the 2024 election after coming under intense pressure to do so. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Martin had been pummeled in public for months after he promised to release the report and then reversed course in December, saying he would not do so. On Thursday, Martin apologized. “When I was elected DNC chair, I commissioned an after action review of the 2024 election that I wanted to be honest and transparent, and with actionable and specific takeaways for the future of the Democratic Party,” Martin said. “When I received the report late last year, it wasn’t ready for primetime — not even close — and because no source material was provided, it would have meant starting over.” Martin went on: “I could not in good faith put the DNC’s stamp of approval on the report that was produced. After last November’s massive Democratic wins, I didn’t want to create a distraction, but by not putting the report out, I ended up creating an even bigger distraction. For that, I sincerely apologize. “For full transparency,” Martin continued, “I am releasing the report as we received it, in its entirety, unedited and unabridged. It does not meet my standards, and it won’t meet your standards, but I am doing this because people need to be able to trust the Democratic Party and trust our word.”CNN first published the copy of the report.DNC members had previ...