During her book tour promoting her memoir, Unburdened by What Has Been, Vice President Kamala Harris has candidly addressed her abbreviated 2024 presidential campaign, revealing that she aimed to become “America’s Kamala”—a unifying figure embodying her diverse heritage and progressive vision. However, she explained that her 107-day campaign was severely constrained because President Joe Biden was “too far gone” to step down earlier, leaving her with little time to pivot from her vice-presidential role. Speaking at a Chicago event on September 22, 2025, Harris described the emotional toll of Biden’s deteriorating health, suggesting his reluctance to resign stemmed from pride or incapacity, forcing her into a rushed bid that she felt never allowed her to fully connect with voters. This narrative has sparked debate, with some seeing it as a bold admission and others as a convenient excuse for her electoral loss.

Harris also disclosed a strategic dilemma in selecting her vice-presidential running mate, claiming she couldn’t choose her preferred candidate—widely speculated to be Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg—because his openly gay identity would alienate Black voters, a key demographic for her campaign. She argued that the irony lies in Buttigieg’s perceived lack of authenticity, suggesting his homosexuality was more a calculated move to appeal to white progressive voters than a genuine identity, a claim she tied to her belief that Black communities remain socially conservative on such issues. This revelation, made during a Q&A in Atlanta, has drawn sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and Buttigieg supporters, who call it a baseless stereotype, while others see it as a rare glimpse into the pragmatic, if controversial, calculations behind her campaign strategy. Her comments have reignited discussions about identity politics in American elections.

The remarks have added a layer of complexity to Harris’s post-campaign narrative, as she seeks to reframe her tenure and 2024 run. By blaming Biden’s condition and the VP selection constraints, she positions herself as a victim of circumstance rather than a candidate outmatched by Donald Trump’s return. However, her assertion about Buttigieg’s motives and the voting preferences of Black Americans lacks empirical support, with exit polls showing diverse support across racial lines in past elections, including for Buttigieg in 2020. Critics argue this reflects a misstep in her outreach, while supporters contend it highlights the tough choices she faced in a polarized political landscape. As her tour continues, these disclosures are likely to fuel both her redemption arc and further scrutiny of her leadership style.