Following Vice President Kamala Harris's defeat by President-elect Trump, internal divisions within the Democratic party have surfaced, raising concerns about their campaign strategies and their connection with key demographics. A recent New York Times report highlighted allegations from Harris campaign staff who felt Black and Latino voters in Philadelphia, a crucial voting bloc in a pivotal swing state, were overlooked.

Former campaign organizer Amelia Pernell told the Times that many residents in these communities felt abandoned by the campaign, having received little to no outreach. This sentiment was echoed by other volunteers who believed the campaign prioritized white suburban voters over Black and Latino communities. The Times described "deep frustration" and even "insubordination" among Black staffers who deviated from the official campaign approach.

The Times report also detailed complaints about inadequate resources and poorly located field offices in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Some staffers reportedly took matters into their own hands, setting up independent outreach operations in areas they felt were neglected. Philadelphia City Council member Isaiah Thomas criticized the Harris campaign for its waning momentum, citing a lack of visibility and grassroots engagement.

Harris's loss in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, mirrors similar struggles faced by Hillary Clinton in 2016, raising questions about the party's ability to connect with urban voters. Some, like Philadelphia labor leader Ryan Boyer Sr., attributed the loss to a lack of focus on economic issues, suggesting that the campaign overemphasized reproductive rights at the expense of "bread-and-butter" economic concerns.

However, senior Harris campaign advisor Kellan White disputed the claims of insufficient outreach, arguing that the campaign's efforts in Philadelphia were extensive. White suggested the real issue was a failure to connect with voters on a deeper level, highlighting the need for the party to re-evaluate its messaging and understand why it didn't resonate.