House Democrats commiserate after Harris’ election loss as the blame game begins
Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz
November 7, 2024
House Democrats’ path to the majority is rapidly narrowing. The blame game over what went wrong is only just starting.
In a subdued, somber call, their first since Tuesday’s election, Democratic leaders projected confidence in their party and told lawmakers to wait to see the results of the races that still haven’t been called — as many rank-and-file members are starting to air grievances.
Democrats felt their leadership set expectations for how the call would go when Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told lawmakers to sit tight, according to two people on the call, and Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), who was formerly whip of the House Democrats, told Democrats to stand with their leaders but to speak for themselves and their races rather than for the caucus as a whole.
Jeffries in a statement issued just before the caucus call said he congratulated Trump but believed House control was still up in the air.
