ATLANTA (AP) - As he concludes his time as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Jaime Harrison is downplaying his party's November loss to President-elect Donald Trump and arguing Democrats avoided even greater losses that parties in power have faced around the world.
But he acknowledged that Democrats must do a better job of selling the party's priorities and accomplishments for the working class. He also called for continued nationwide investments in party infrastructure and better use of non-legacy media.
"I can't tell you how disappointed I am that Kamala Harris is not going to be the next president of the United States," Harrison said in an interview Monday. But "the political pendulum in this country has been swinging swiftly, back and forth," he added, and "we got to buckle up and get ready for it" to continue.
Harrison made similar arguments in a memo being distributed Tuesday to Democratic Party leaders and donors around the country.
"Although Democrats did not achieve what we set out to do, Trump wasn't able to capture the support of more than 50% of the electorate and Democrats beat back global headwinds that could've turned this squeaker into a landslide," Harrison wrote, comparing Democrats' losses in the U.S. to more sweeping defeats that parties in power suffered globally since the coronavirus pandemic and global inflation.
It is not surprising for a chairman to defend his party's performances even after disappointing elections. Harrison, President Joe Biden's pick in 2021 to lead during his term, has been criticized after Trump's victory, particularly by progressives who argue the party abandoned working-class voters.
Harrison pointed to victories for Sens.-elect Ruben Gallego in Arizona and Elissa Slotkin in Michigan, along with reelections like those of Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.
Republicans ousted Democratic senators in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Montana on their way to a majority. However, Harrison noted that GOP’s House majority will be narrow - with final counts pending - while Democrats flipped some Republican seats.
At state levels, Harrison highlighted Democratic successes such as North Carolina’s statewide offices wins, legislative gains in conservative states like Arkansas, and reducing Republican control over Alaska’s statehouse.
"It was a mixed bag," he said.
Trump swept all seven battleground states against Harris and won popular vote for first time across three presidential runs. The president-elect gained traction within key Democratic constituencies: people of color, younger voters & union supporters—securing larger share among Black & Latino voters compared with 2020 especially men under age 45 according AP VoteCast survey involving over 120K voters nationwide—and included rank-and-file union members crucially impacting regions such as Michigan/Wisconsin/Pennsylvania
"It's same thing Barack Obama right? Sometimes politics they're cultural figures ... build different coalitions", emphasized Mr.Harrison adding "those coalitions don’t last once they step off dais".