Politics

Harris Reveals Buttigieg was First VP Choice in New Memoir

Published SEP 19 2025

Story

Above: Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg on May 13, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Image credit: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

The Facts

Former Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly writes in her upcoming book "107 Days" that Pete Buttigieg was her first choice for running mate, but she decided against him because America wasn't ready for a Black woman and gay man on the same ticket.
The Hill
Straight Arrow News
New York Post
Harris said that Buttigieg "would have been an ideal partner — if I were a straight white man," but concluded the pairing would be "too big of a risk" given the historic nature of her own candidacy as a Black woman married to a Jewish man.
Bringmethenews
The Washington Examiner
The former vice president ultimately selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate reportedly after his "These guys are just weird" attack line against Trump and JD Vance gained widespread attention during the campaign.
Los Angeles Times
The Associated Press
In response to the news, Buttigieg told Politico he was "surprised" by Harris' reasoning and believes voters judge candidates based on "what they think you're going to do for their lives, not on categories," adding they never discussed her concerns.
Politico
Harris describes Buttigieg in her memoir as "a sincere public servant with the rare talent of being able to frame liberal arguments in a way that makes it possible for conservatives to hear them," and calls him a close friend.
Atlantic
Axios
The book "107 Days," referencing the length of Harris' condensed presidential campaign, is set to be published by Simon & Schuster on Sept. 23 and offers behind-the-scenes insights into her vice presidential selection process.
Bringmethenews
The Washington Examiner

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Harris made a pragmatic decision based on electoral reality. The country has struggled to accept diverse leadership, and asking voters to embrace both a Black woman president and gay vice president simultaneously would have been political suicide. Harris was already breaking barriers as a woman of color married to a Jewish man — adding another historic first risked alienating swing voters who determine elections. Strategic campaigns require tough choices, and Harris chose electability over idealism to maximize Democratic chances against Trump.

Atlantic

Narrative B

Voters care about competence and policy solutions, not identity categories, as evidenced by Obama winning Indiana and Buttigieg's own electoral success in conservative areas. Americans deserve more credit than Harris gave them — reducing electoral politics to demographic calculations insults voters' intelligence and judgment. Effective politicians earn trust through their vision and capabilities, not by playing it safe with conventional wisdom about what the electorate can handle.

Politico

Independent

Narrative C

This whole episode exposes Harris' fundamental unfitness for leadership. She couldn't pick the best candidate because of his sexual orientation, yet had no problem endorsing taxpayer-funded sex changes for minors during her campaign. The hypocrisy is staggering — making identity-based decisions while claiming to champion inclusion. Tim Walz was objectively a terrible choice that helped nobody, and now she's trying to blame American voters for her own political cowardice and poor judgment.