Kamala Harris’s forthcoming memoir 107 Days, marks her most revealing political account yet. She writes of the shock, emotion, and chaos after President Biden withdrew from the race and she launched a rapid campaign against Donald Trump. In those intense 107 days, Harris says she finally stopped suppressing frustrations, owning mistakes, and speaking bluntly about what went wrong in her campaign.
Honesty About Grief and Shock
Harris admits she felt stunned when she learned she lost the 2024 election. She describes waking up the morning after the results, almost breathless, barely able to process what happened. She writes that she moved through denial and bargaining before she reached acceptance. These early days felt surreal to her as she recalls staffers peeling “Madame President” off cupcakes meant for celebration. She kept asking, “My God, what will happen to our country?”
Criticism of Biden’s Stay in the Race and Debate Missteps
She criticizes the decision to stay in the campaign too long. She writes that President Biden fatigue showed clearly when he stumbled during the debate, and that his inner circle failed to recognize the damage that moment caused. Harris writes that the debate in Atlanta revealed how exhausted he had become. Meanwhile, she says that people around her kept telling the public Biden won, even after the debate betrayed those hopes.
Internal Tensions and Political Identity
Harris reveals that choosing her vice presidential running mate sparked friction and political calculation. She says she preferred Pete Buttigieg at first, but worried about how voters would respond to a Black woman president paired with a gay man and identity politics. She chose Tim Walz instead. She also recounts a tense, distracting phone call from Biden before a debate. During that call, he asked why she had allegedly criticized him to donors. She says she felt stunned and frustrated that it took attention away from her prep.
Blunders, Strange Moments, and Lessons Learned
107 Days also includes admissions of missteps. Harris describes a poorly received appearance on The View, where she blanked on talking points and gave a line that staff later called “a gift to the Trump campaign.” She also recalls voice coaches suggesting strange warmups before speeches, such as animal noises, humming, and trills, all intended to help but adding to the surreal feel. She says those moments taught her that authenticity and message clarity matter more than polish when voters are watching closely.
Why This Book Matters
This memoir matters because it shows a politician choosing vulnerability over control. Harris opens up about internal doubts, public misperceptions, and the burden of trying to distance herself from unpopular parts of the Democratic image while maintaining loyalty. Many readers may relate to the sense of having to balance identity, performance, and allegiance. Also, 107 Days may reshape how the public sees her future political trajectory.
What to Look for Next
The book releases September 23, 2025, via Simon & Schuster. Harris will embark on a 15 city tour across the U.S., Canada, and the UK to promote it. Watch for reactions from fellow Democrats like Buttigieg and Shapiro, both of whom appear in the book and have already pushed back on some of her characterizations. Also expect debates on how internal party dynamics, strategic decisions, and personal tolls of modern campaigns get covered moving forward.
Bonus Read: Claudia Sheinbaum Makes History as First Female President
