Overview
- DNC Chair Ken Martin published the nearly 200-page autopsy on May 21, 2026, apologized for withholding it and said he was releasing the draft unedited even though it did not meet his standards.
- Every page carries a DNC disclaimer that the document reflects only the author’s views and that the committee never received interview lists, transcripts, or underlying data needed to verify many assertions.
- The autopsy assigns significant blame to the Biden White House and the Harris campaign for failing to prepare and define Kamala Harris before and after the candidate switch, and for not sufficiently driving President Trump’s negatives.
- The draft is incomplete and error-prone, lacking an executive summary and conclusion, and includes DNC annotations that flag factual errors, missing sourcing, typos, and unsupported claims.
- The release intensified internal criticism of Ken Martin, heightened concerns among donors and operatives about party readiness and finances, and could complicate unity and strategy as Democrats prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.