Kamala Harris reveals in an excerpt from her forthcoming memoir, 107 Days, that Pete Buttigieg was her "first choice" to be running mate in 2024, but she ultimately settled on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after concluding the country was not ready to elect a Black woman married to a Jewish man. She writes that Buttigieg "would have been an ideal partner —if I were a straight white man," while noting that "we were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man," and that, "Part of me wanted to say, Screw it, let’s just do it. But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk."
She writes that Buttigieg topped her list of eight potential running mates because "he is 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." Harris said Buttigieg would have been "an ideal partner" under different circumstances, but acknowledged the political math left little room for risk with the national mood. "And I think Pete also knew that — to our mutual sadness."
She says, "I love Pete. I love working with Pete. He and his husband, Chasten, are friends." The excerpts describe a personal rapport with Buttigieg even as she calculated electability, arguing that his background could galvanize supporters but could turn away some voters.
Ultimately, Harris tapped Walz, the Minnesota governor, to join her on the ticket. The pair went on to lose the 2024 election to President Trump, losing the popular vote, the Electoral College and every swing state.
Political dynamics are shifting; Buttigieg remains a potential candidate for 2028. An Emerson College survey released in June showed Buttigieg leading Harris in a hypothetical Democratic presidential primary, 16% to 13%, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 12%, and other contenders close behind.
The Atlantic published the excerpt, which The New York Post summarized; reporters referenced the excerpt and the broader 2024 race results.
