A DNC finance team member criticized the Harris campaign for its tone during a post-election call with top donors, describing it as overly celebratory without addressing the campaign’s shortcomings. Speaking with NewsNation’s Connell McShane, Lindy Li expressed surprise at the lack of introspection or analysis of what went wrong.
Li shared her frustration over the call’s focus, stating it largely consisted of self-praise. “They lauded Harris as a visionary leader, and at one point, she was even discussing her Thanksgiving recipe,” she noted.
Lindy Li critiques Harris campaign for lack of introspection in donor call
The repercussion of Harris’s loss to President-elect Trump has exposed internal issues within her campaign, leading to staff resignations. Financial struggles have compounded the turmoil, with the campaign reportedly $20 million in debt, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Li has spoken out on behalf of dissatisfied donors and voters, calling party leadership out of touch for spending over $1 billion in a short campaign. In an interview on the “Pod Save America” podcast, she pointed to excessive spending on consultants and questioned the campaign’s priorities.
Highlighting the inefficiencies, Li remarked that consulting firms seemed to benefit more than the public from the campaign’s expenditures. She added that many within the party are equally disillusioned with how resources were managed.
Campaigns with debts are not uncommon; according to the Federal Election Commission, some House and Senate campaigns often end with unpaid obligations to vendors. Roll Call previously reported that 18 members of Congress began 2023 with campaign debts exceeding $100,000.
Li warned that without transparency about how funds were used—particularly regarding consultants, private jets, and celebrity endorsements—it would be difficult to regain donors’ trust for future campaigns.
