Democrats are expressing frustration with former Vice President Kamala Harris over her upcoming memoir, arguing that its timing and tone are reopening wounds within the party at a moment when unity is most needed. The book, 107 Days, set for release Tuesday, recounts Harris’s short campaign after President Biden’s withdrawal in 2024. Critics say it assigns too much blame to others, sparking unnecessary divisions as Democrats try to regroup following their electoral defeat. One strategist summed up the mood by calling the release “salt in the wound,” suggesting it risks reigniting fights instead of helping the party move forward.
Excerpts from the memoir have already generated controversy. Harris takes direct aim at Biden, questioning whether he should have run for reelection at all and criticizing him for calling her before her only debate with Trump. She also offers pointed remarks about potential 2028 rivals, including Pete Buttigieg and Josh Shapiro, as well as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Buttigieg, in response, stressed that voters care more about results than identity politics, while Shapiro accused Harris of failing to sound the alarm about Biden sooner. Newsom and Pritzker both had their own anecdotes featured, some of which have caused awkwardness within the party.
Some allies argue that Harris has a right to tell her story, and that the book sheds light on an unusual election cycle where she only had 107 days to build a campaign. They say it reflects real hurdles she faced, particularly the difficulties of stepping in after Biden dropped out. Supporters believe her candor may resonate with voters who want authenticity, even if the memoir could have shown more self-reflection about her own campaign’s missteps. Comparisons have been drawn to Hillary Clinton’s 2017 memoir, What Happened, which also stirred internal party debate.
Strategists remain divided on whether the book will ultimately harm or help Harris’s standing. Critics worry it hands Republicans a narrative of Democratic infighting, while others argue it’s better she be candid now than later during critical elections. Anthony Coley, who served in the Biden administration, defended Harris, saying the memoir “peels back a layer” and offers the kind of insight voters want today. Still, even allies admit they wish Harris had been this candid during the campaign itself, rather than after the fact.