Former Vice President Kamala Harris’s upcoming memoir 107 Days offers a striking behind-the-scenes look at the scramble for power following Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race—and it’s already ruffling feathers within the Democratic Party.
In the book, which was obtained in advance by Axios, Harris delivers a candid account of how key Democratic figures reacted—or failed to react—during the chaos that followed Biden’s July 21 announcement. Most notably, Harris accuses California Governor Gavin Newsom of dodging her call on the day she sought endorsements from prominent party leaders.
“Hiking. Will call back,” she wrote from her notes about Newsom’s response—adding, “(He never did.)”
Why This Matters
Harris’s recollection paints a picture of fractured unity at the top of the Democratic Party. With the 2028 election already on the minds of potential contenders, Harris’s assessments could offer insight into tensions that unfolded in 2024 and that could carry on into the next presidential election cycle.
Newsom’s Silent Snub
At the time of Biden’s withdrawal, Newsom was rumored to be jockeying him to replace him on the ticket. Though he had pledged loyalty to Biden, his national travel and high-profile media appearances suggested he was keeping his options open.
While governors like Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois’s J.B. Pritzker also hesitated initially, they at least took Harris’s call. Newsom, Harris claims, did not.
He ultimately endorsed her via social media—but without ever speaking to her directly.
At the Democratic National Convention a month later, Newsom quipped to Pod Save America about the nomination process: “We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process. It was bottom-up, I don’t know if you know that. That’s what I’ve been told to say!”
A spokesperson for Newsom declined to comment on Harris’s claims.
Harris Pulls Back the Curtain on 2024 Drama
In 107 Days, Harris recounts dozens of phone calls and private discussions as she moved swiftly to consolidate support after Biden’s endorsement. But she also uses the memoir to call out those who she felt were disingenuous, ambitious, or untrustworthy—including several likely 2028 contenders.
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA)
Harris says Shapiro raised eyebrows when he allegedly joked about selecting artwork from the Smithsonian as a potential vice president. She interpreted this as a red flag.
“I had to be able to completely trust the person in that role. I worried that Shapiro would be unable to settle for a role as number two, and that it would wear on our partnership.”
Shapiro’s spokesperson dismissed the account, calling it “simply ridiculous to suggest that Governor Shapiro was focused on anything other than defeating Donald Trump and protecting Pennsylvania from the chaos we are living through now.”
Pete Buttigieg
Harris reveals that she seriously considered Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for the VP slot but ultimately decided that his sexual orientation would be too politically risky.
“I was surprised,” Buttigieg told Politico following the revelation, adding that “the way that you earn trust with voters is based mostly on what they think you’re going to do for their lives, not on categories.”
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
Harris evaluated Sen. Mark Kelly as a potential running mate but concluded he wasn’t ready:
“He also hadn’t yet had an ‘Oh sh*t’ moment in his relatively short political career…I realized that I couldn’t afford to test Mark Kelly in that ugly grinder.”
Kelly’s team declined to comment.
Setting the Stage for 2028
While Harris does not officially declare her intentions for 2028 in the book, the tone and content strongly suggest she’s positioning herself for another run—and sending a message to would-be challengers.
The book is as much a memoir as it is a political maneuver, subtly drawing a contrast between Harris’s loyalty to Biden, her speed in locking down the nomination, and what she portrays as self-interested hesitation or disloyalty from her peers.
In many ways, 107 Days reads like a preemptive strike on the 2028 field.
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Let them continue to EAT one another up – that is their best quality
Good more social divide in the Dems