She left her team speechless.
A new book by Chris Whipple, Uncharted, details Vice President Kamala Harris’s failed bid for the presidency in the 2024 election, describing her rise to the top of the Democratic ticket and the crushing defeat she faced on Election Day. Despite having a team of skilled advisors from the Obama administration, Harris’s campaign struggled due to her lack of experience and preparedness for the role. With Joe Biden endorsing Harris after stepping down, she avoided a primary challenge, but her campaign still faltered.
The campaign, which cost over $2 billion, seemed overly optimistic despite trailing in critical battleground states. There was a disconnect between campaign officials and pollsters, with some analysts expressing disbelief at the campaign’s confident tone despite consistent polling showing Harris behind. On Election Day, as the results came in, Harris and her team realized they were losing key “blue wall” states that had been vital for previous Democratic victories.
As the night progressed, it became clear that there was no path to victory. Senior campaign officials, including Jen O’Malley Dillon, informed Harris that they couldn’t make up the lost ground in critical states. This led to the end of the campaign, with Cedric Richmond delivering the news to supporters that Harris had lost. The defeat was seen as part of a broader failure by the Democrats to understand the concerns of voters, particularly regarding issues like the economy and immigration.
The election results reflected a shift in voter sentiment, with significant portions of immigrant and nonwhite communities moving towards the Republican Party. The Democrats also lost ground with younger voters, with Gen Z showing signs of becoming the most conservative youth bloc in decades. The outcome revealed deep structural problems within the Democratic Party, which will need to be addressed if they hope to win future elections.
