Vice President Kamala Harris is facing mounting criticism from Democratic insiders and donors following her party's loss to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, with many questioning her absence from the public stage and branding her leadership as lacking.
"She's MIA!" one Democratic insider told Page Six, adding that Harris' post-election approach has left many within the party disillusioned. The source further remarked, "Doug [Emhoff] is telling people she's the leader of the party, but there is a clear lack of leadership."
Harris, who conceded the election last November, has made few public appearances since the loss, instead appearing at Broadway shows and recently signing with Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). "The person you just spent $2 billion on trying to elect? I'm glad she's having a good time going to a musical, and being repped by CAA," the insider said.
Another Democratic source commented, "One of her problems is that she's the most risk-averse person on the planet. That's one of the reasons she lost." They noted the campaign's cautious media strategy, adding, "There was nothing to peel the onion back for people."
Harris has been spotted at Broadway productions of A Wonderful World and Gypsy in recent weeks, a move that has fueled frustration among party members still grappling with the sting of the election defeat. "This whole strategy of 'do not do anything, or say anything,' that's not the kind of leadership the world needs right now," one insider remarked.
Criticism of Harris' public absence has also surfaced in media circles. A recent Telegraph opinion piece faulted Harris for avoiding engagement with new media formats, suggesting her limited outreach contributed to the campaign's failure.
Discontent is not confined to party operatives. A major Democratic donor told the San Francisco Standard, "This was such a gut punch of an election for so many Democratic donors - not to mention an expensive gut punch. A number of the people I've talked to were just like, 'What the f--- did I burn all that money for?'"
During her concession speech in November, Harris urged supporters to remain optimistic. "The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," Harris said. "But hear me when I say, the light of America's promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting."
She reaffirmed her message while addressing the cast and crew of A Wonderful World backstage, saying, "Spirits tire but [are] not be defeated. Never let anybody defeat that. Because then what do we have left?" Harris continued, "I believe we fight for something, not against something, right? And that's our optimism, right? With that, I'm leaving."
A source close to Harris pushed back on the criticism, insisting she has remained active behind the scenes. The source noted that Harris recently attended the NAACP Image Awards, engaged in fundraising efforts for the Democratic National Committee, and maintained contact with both federal and state leaders. "She's talking to folks, not running around trying to get press," the insider said, adding that her supporters "are eager to back her and giving her space" as she considers her next steps.
