There was one election the entire world watched, that was the US election. In November of 2024 it was Kamala Harris versus Donald Trump. A rematch of ideologies. And Trump didn’t just win, unfortunately, he dominated. He flipped and held all six key swing states: Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. That netted him 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226; a clear and decisive victory. However, this is not new information, hundreds of news sources have already analysed why the Trump campaign managed to win what seemed to be a decisive victory.
What is not discussed is why the left lost. What mistakes did they make? What weaknesses did they expose? And most importantly, how can they learn from those failures? This can be broken down into two main failures that contributed to their loss back in November: the failure to create an image, and the failure to separate from the Biden administration.
Disorganisation and Failure To Create An Image
After her loss in November, Kamala Harris all but disappeared. Her name, which was once a beacon for a new generation of voters, suddenly vanished from public discourse. Regardless of one’s opinion of Donald Trump, it is clear that he excelled in one critical area; branding. Rather than simply running a campaign, he cultivated a movement and an identity. ‘MAGA’ evolved beyond a slogan, into a ‘fanatical cult-like lifestyle’ –one that resonated deeply with his base and fostered a strong (but deceitful) sense of belonging and purpose.
The Democrats, in contrast, offered little more than an “Anti-Trump” platform. Their central message —“We’re not him” — failed to resonate as a substantive policy. Many voters perceived that Kamala Harris’ campaign brought ‘nothing new to the table’. There was no compelling slogan, no unifying campaign message —and although TikTok and Instagram saw active Gen Z political engagement, her campaign misdirected its outreach. Instead of targeting eligible young voters, much of her campaign’s digital messaging was focused on influencers and audiences under 18 (of whom couldn’t vote). This wasted valuable outreach bandwidth and ignored the concerns of college-aged and working-class Gen Z voters who were eager for real policy commitments.
Additionally, Harris’s campaign lacked clarity and substance when it came to economic policy, which was a top concern for many voters, especially in a post-pandemic economy. While inflation had cooled from its 2022 peak, 45% of Americans in exit polls cited the economy as worse off than previous administrations. Yet Harris failed to articulate a clear plan for wage growth, small business support, or cost-of-living relief. Instead, much of her campaign focused on reaffirming her stance on social issues like LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedom, positions already well-known and supported by her base.
This strategy led to voter fatigue; while these issues remain important, undecided and swing voters wanted concrete economic solutions, not repeated affirmations of values they already associated with her platform. While Kamala became an icon of ‘brat summer’, this didn’t resonate to older voters who wanted answers not trends.
Failure To Separate From The Biden Administration
The Biden administration intentionally kept her in the background, aiming to avoid internal friction or public distraction. However, this strategy came at the cost of her political capital.By the time 2024 arrived and she stepped into the spotlight, the public saw no bold vision or distinct leadership. Instead, she appeared as a mere extension of the existing Biden administration. Biden’s approval rating had hovered in the low 40s for the last two years of his term. Key policy areas — like inflation, student debt relief, and border security — remained polarizing or stagnant. Harris failed to break from those shadows or show how she would lead differently. Two thirds of voters believed that the country was on the wrong track and that the economy was weak, meaning that 70% of voters did not want a repeat of Biden’s administration.
Conclusions
The failures of Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party were not inevitable —they were preventable. To recover, they must construct a compelling image that builds emotional connection with voters. It is crucial to move beyond a message defined solely by opposition, such as ‘We’re not him’. Instead, a clear and bold identity that resonates with voters must be crafted.
Simultaneously, they must prioritize organization and strategic planning, as the next election cycle is already in motion. Failure to learn from the mistakes of 2024 will not only result in another electoral defeat but could also erode their capacity to lead effectively in the future.
