Kamala Harris Taps Democratic Base to Promote ‘107 Days’ Memoir, Eyes 2028 Presidential Run
Washington, D.C. — August 8, 2025 — Former Vice President Kamala Harris is leveraging her strong Democratic Party base to promote her upcoming memoir, 107 Days, set for release on September 23, 2025, by Simon & Schuster, as she positions herself for a potential 2028 presidential bid. The 320-page book, detailing her historic but unsuccessful 107-day 2024 presidential campaign, is being pitched as a “page-turning” account of one of the most consequential campaigns in U.S. history, with Harris collaborating with Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Geraldine Brooks to craft a narrative likened to The West Wing or Rocky.
Harris announced the memoir on July 31, 2025, in a video posted on X, describing it as a “candid and reflective” behind-the-scenes look at her campaign, which began after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal on July 21, 2024, and ended with her loss to Donald Trump on November 5, 2024. “I believe there’s value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what it will take to move forward,” Harris said, emphasizing a key theme: “Sometimes, the fight takes a while.” The memoir, which Harris narrates in the audiobook, promises “surprising and revealing insights” into her rapid campaign, which saw her become the first Black woman and Asian American to secure the Democratic presidential nomination.
Strategic Promotion and Party Engagement
Harris is actively engaging her Democratic base to build momentum for the memoir, which many see as a springboard for 2028. Her first post-election interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on July 31, 2025, marked the launch of her media campaign, where she discussed the “broken” political system and her desire to reconnect with Americans outside the “transactional” context of vote-seeking. Sources close to Harris indicate she is planning a fall book tour, though details remain unconfirmed, aiming to reconnect with voters, donors, and party activists. Conservative commentator Jesse Watters predicted the tour could “launch her toward the midterms” and position her for 2028, while The Breakfast Club host Charlamagne tha God suggested a book and potential podcast could help Harris “build a real connection with people.”
Harris’s decision to forgo a 2026 California gubernatorial run, announced on July 30, 2025, has fueled speculation about her presidential ambitions. In a statement, she expressed her intent to focus on “helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly,” signaling a strategic effort to strengthen her influence within the party. Early polling shows Harris as a strong contender for the 2028 Democratic nomination, though she faces competition from figures like Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, and Josh Shapiro.
Mixed Reception and Political Strategy
The memoir has received polarized reactions. Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp praised it as “one of the best works of political nonfiction” the publisher has produced, comparing its drama to a suspense novel. However, conservative critics have been harsh, with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy calling it a guide on “how not to run a campaign,” citing Harris’s loss in all major battleground states, including the “blue wall” states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The New York Post labeled it a “diary of defeat,” and White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson quipped on X, “Writing a memoir about being a loser is a choice.” President Trump, when asked about the book, sarcastically remarked, “I would love to buy it,” dismissing its significance.
Despite the criticism, Harris’s memoir is a calculated move to maintain visibility and shape her narrative post-2024. Publishing insiders estimate she secured a $20 million advance, underscoring the book’s commercial potential. Her collaboration with Brooks and co-editors Karp and Dawn Davis aims to deliver a compelling story that appeals to both loyal Democrats and curious readers. The book focuses on the campaign’s intensity—launched after Biden’s exit following a disastrous debate and an assassination attempt on Trump—rather than her vice presidency, distinguishing it from her 2019 memoir, The Truths We Hold.
Policy and Legacy
In 107 Days, Harris is expected to reflect on her platform, which included abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, gun control, climate legislation, cannabis legalization, and a populist economic agenda with price caps and child tax credit expansions. Her foreign policy stance, supporting aid to Ukraine and Israel while advocating for a two-state solution, may also feature. The memoir avoids detailed commentary on Biden’s fitness, a sensitive topic, but addresses “everything we would want her to address,” according to Karp.
Since leaving office, Harris has kept a low profile, attending selective events like the Met Gala and a Compton high school graduation, while speaking at an Australian real estate conference. Her focus on grassroots engagement and party-building suggests a long-term strategy to rebuild Democratic momentum after 2024 losses, with 107 Days serving as both a personal reflection and a political tool.
Looking Ahead
As Harris promotes 107 Days, her activities signal a careful balancing act: maintaining relevance without committing to a 2028 run. Her book tour, if it materializes, could serve as a platform to test her appeal and refine her message. While supporters see her as a trailblazer, critics argue her 2024 defeat—securing 226 Electoral College votes to Trump’s 312—makes her a risky choice for another nomination. With Democrats out of power in the White House, House, and Senate, Harris’s memoir and outreach efforts aim to galvanize the base and keep her in the conversation for 2028.
Sources: Newsweek, The New York Times, AP News, POLITICO, CNN, The Hill, Variety, Simon & Schuster, The Washington Examiner, posts on X