Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) became the first House Democrat to publicly call for Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin to resign on Thursday, following the release of a deeply flawed postmortem on the party's 2024 election losses. Veasey told Semafor reporter Nicholas Wu that Martin should "move on," arguing that the party lacks a credible plan to rebound ahead of the midterms.
"There doesn't seem to be a plan to turn things around and the clock is ticking," Veasey said. "November is literally around the corner…I believe it's time for him to move on." The Texas lawmaker's remarks mark the first direct call for Martin's ouster from within the House Democratic caucus, though dissatisfaction has been simmering for weeks.
Botched Autopsy Sparks Backlash
Martin released the 192-page autopsy on Thursday after months of internal pressure, but immediately disavowed the report, calling it substandard. "I am not proud of this product; it does not meet my standards, and it won't meet your standards," Martin said. "I don't endorse what's in this report, or what's left out of it. I could not in good faith put the DNC's stamp of approval on it. But transparency is paramount."
The report, written by Democratic strategist Paul Rivera, paints a bleak picture of the party over the past two decades, arguing that Democrats became too focused on opposing Republicans and Trump rather than articulating a positive vision. However, the document is riddled with errors, annotations, and omissions. It notably fails to mention President Biden's age, the choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Kamala Harris's running mate, or internal divisions over the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza.
As previously reported, the rollout has been widely criticized by Democratic strategists, activists, and lawmakers. Former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg was quick to call for Martin's resignation, stating, "It's clear that Chair Ken Martin has lost the confidence of his staff, supporters, and most importantly, millions of Americans counting on the DNC to help Democrats win up and down the ballot in 2026 and 2028." Hogg emphasized the need for "a relentless commitment to actually changing the broken Democratic Party brand."
Growing Pressure Ahead of Midterms
Martin had promised earlier last year to release the findings on Harris's loss to President Trump but reversed course, only to capitulate after sustained pressure. He acknowledged Thursday that keeping the report under wraps "ended up creating an even bigger distraction" than the one he sought to avoid. The controversy comes as Democrats face a critical election cycle in 2026, with control of Congress at stake.
Veasey's call for Martin's resignation adds to the mounting pressure on the DNC chair. The Texas Democrat's stance may embolden other House members to speak out, as the party grapples with internal divisions and a lack of clear direction. The timing is particularly fraught, with redistricting battles and budget fights intensifying on Capitol Hill.
Meanwhile, Republicans have seized on Democratic disarray. The GOP has been quick to highlight the internal strife, with some pointing to the recent legislative battles as evidence of Democratic dysfunction. For now, Martin remains in place, but the calls for his resignation are unlikely to subside without a clear plan to rebuild party confidence.
