In a pointed interview on national television, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut expressed regret over the Democratic Party’s handling of the 2024 presidential election, citing President Joe Biden’s decision to remain in the race for as long as he did as a critical misstep.

Murphy blamed Democratic Party leaders for not urging Biden to step aside earlier, saying the resulting loss gave rise to what he described as a dangerously unfit commander-in-chief taking office, as Breitbart reports.

Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, Murphy voiced frustration with how his party managed the previous year’s presidential campaign.

He argued that Biden’s continued candidacy well into th summer eliminated the possibility of a competitive and transparent primary process that could have energized voters.

Murphy expresses regret

Murphy said that had Biden voluntarily stepped down earlier in the race, Democrats could have rallied behind strong candidates in a robust primary. Among those, he specifically named Vice President Kamala Harris as someone who would have likely performed well under those conditions.

“The president should have gotten out of the race earlier,” Murphy stated during the interview. He went on to say that without a genuine primary, the party was unable to present its strongest options to the public.

“There’s no doubt the Democratic Party would have been better served by having the ability to have a primary,” he added, emphasizing how the opportunity was missed because of internal decisions that stuck with a single candidate throughout the cycle.

Reflects on fallout from 2024

Murphy was candid in his reflection on the election’s outcome, saying, “In retrospect, we lost, so we can’t defend the way in which our politics played out.” His comments came as Democrats consider how internal missteps contributed to the current administration taking shape under their Republican opponents.

Without directly naming the new officeholder, Murphy referred to the sitting president as a “madman” and “corrupt,” indicating deep concern about the current direction of the executive branch. These remarks represented one of the senator’s most forthright criticisms of both the opposition and his own party’s strategic choices.

While expressing regret, Murphy also acknowledged his past collaborations with Biden. He recalled their work on a major gun safety bill during the 2020 and 2022 sessions of Congress, legislation which he said had saved “thousands of lives.”

Book on Biden decline set for release

Host Kristen Welker pressed Murphy on questions that have gained traction following the release of a new book, Original Sin, authored by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson. The book alleges that top Biden aides concealed signs of the president’s mental and physical decline, particularly from 2023 onward.

Welker quoted a former senior White House official cited in the book who claimed members of the administration acted to shield Biden from much of the staff. The official reportedly said the intent was to limit awareness about how far the president’s capacity had diminished.

When asked directly about the claim that Biden’s circle engaged in a “cover-up,” Murphy responded cautiously. “I haven’t read the book, and I don’t know what to say about the allegations they made,” he replied, avoiding confirmation or denial of the specific charges mentioned in the publication.

Looking toward the future

Murphy’s tone shifted more critical as the conversation returned to the broader strategy and aftermath of the 2024 election. Reflecting on the chance Democrats had to put forward alternative leadership, he said, “Ultimately, in retrospect, you can’t defend what the Democratic Party did.”

He underlined the consequences by noting the current administration’s presence in the White House, which he described in stark terms. “We are stuck with a madman, with a corrupt president in the Oval Office, and we should have given ourselves a better chance to win,” Murphy concluded.

Those comments underscore a growing post-election reckoning within parts of the Democratic Party, as leaders and lawmakers confront not only defeat but the strategic decisions that led to it. As 2026 primaries approach, the debate over how to rebuild may dominate intra-party discussions.

Despite the sharp criticism, Murphy stopped short of calling for specific changes to party leadership or naming individuals he believed held the most responsibility for the decisions made in 2024. His focus remained largely on broader strategic miscalculations.

The senator’s remarks come amid renewed efforts inside the Democratic Party to assess the road ahead, especially as concerns linger over party unity and electoral competitiveness in the wake of a bruising loss.