(DailyVantage.com) – The fallout from Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential election loss continues, with fresh allegations surfacing about mismanagement and mistreatment within her campaign. A report from The New York Times details claims of racial discrimination and neglect by Black and Latino staffers, who accuse the campaign’s leadership of ignoring critical outreach efforts to diverse communities in key battleground states.
Staffers described an environment of frustration and neglect, particularly in Philadelphia, where they claim racially diverse neighborhoods were largely overlooked. According to the Times, many staff members took matters into their own hands, launching unsanctioned efforts to reach Black and Latino voters as campaign leadership dismissed concerns about taking these communities for granted.
The allegations came to a head during a post-election call among Black campaign staffers, organized to discuss career opportunities with political strategist Angela Rye. The conversation quickly shifted to grievances about the campaign, with staffers criticizing underfunded field operations, unresponsive leadership, and a lack of representation among hires and consultants.
One of the most damning claims involves campaign offices in predominantly Black neighborhoods, which were reportedly “filthy and lacked basic supplies like chairs, cleaning products, and printers.” Some offices were even relocated to upscale areas, far from the communities they were meant to serve.
The campaign commissioned an internal survey that revealed widespread dissatisfaction among Black staff members, who reported feeling ignored at a significantly higher rate than their peers. Despite being informed of the survey results, campaign leadership allegedly took little action to address these concerns.
Fear of professional retaliation reportedly kept many staffers from speaking out publicly. However, an all-staff call hosted after the election by deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks further fueled tensions. While the campaign denied Fulks discouraged staff from speaking to the media, sources claimed he warned employees that leaks could harm their careers.
Critics argue that these internal failures contributed to Harris’ loss, particularly in Pennsylvania, where former President Donald Trump improved his margins with Black and Latino voters. While some blame inadequate outreach to voters of color, others point to a lack of relatable messaging from the candidate herself.
As Democrats assess what went wrong, the Harris campaign’s struggles highlight broader challenges within the party: connecting with diverse voters and ensuring that its own staff reflects the values it seeks to champion.
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