Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Sunday sharply criticized Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin for holding back the party's long-awaited postmortem on its 2024 presidential defeat, saying the report was too flawed to justify the delay.
Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Van Hollen told host Shannon Bream that the document was "incredibly shoddy and incomplete" and that Martin should have released it sooner. "He should have ripped off the Band-Aid earlier," Van Hollen said. The Maryland Democrat acknowledged that the report's weaknesses explain why Martin hesitated, but argued the delay itself became a damaging distraction.
Van Hollen's remarks come amid growing fallout over the DNC's handling of the autopsy, which was finally made public after weeks of internal debate. The 192-page document, which the DNC chair later acknowledged was "not ready for primetime," has been widely panned for its omissions and lack of depth. It notably failed to include an introduction, a national overview, or a detailed "what happened" section, instead blaming the party's losses on "inconsistent messaging and improper planning."
The report also diagnosed a broader problem: Democrats have "vacillated between stagnation and retrogression" since former President Barack Obama's 2008 victory, ceding ground to Republicans. Van Hollen echoed that concern, warning against a return to pre-Trump politics. "The American people rejected that," he said, urging the party to focus on voters' financial hardships, particularly inflation driven by the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Bream pressed Van Hollen on another gap in the autopsy: the absence of any mention of Israel's war in Gaza, a key issue for many Democratic voters. She cited Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who has called the conflict a genocide. Van Hollen did not shy away, noting that Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Israeli human rights groups have reached similar conclusions. He added that the "main issue" is the "extreme right-wing government" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The delay in releasing the report has fueled calls for Martin's resignation. Former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg described the episode as a "demoralizing joke" and demanded new leadership. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) became the first House Democrat to publicly call for Martin to step down, and Pod Save America host Jon Favreau also joined the chorus, arguing the botched autopsy reflects a party out of touch with its base.
Van Hollen stopped short of demanding Martin's resignation but made clear the DNC chair's handling of the situation was a serious misstep. "Obviously, Democrats failed to connect with people throughout the country, including in the heartland," he said. The senator emphasized that the party must listen more carefully to voters, especially on economic issues.
The controversy has underscored deep divisions within the Democratic Party as it looks toward 2028. Martin has disavowed the report, calling it substandard, but critics argue the damage is done. The episode has also drawn attention to the DNC's internal dysfunction, with former RNC Chair Michael Steele blasting the party for the delayed release.
