Harris maintains leadership claim as book tour stirs debate within Democratic Party

Former Vice President Kamala Harris told The Wall Street Journal she remains a top leader in the Democratic Party, despite the party’s losses in the 2024 presidential race and criticism of her role in the campaign. Harris, who is in Philadelphia to promote her memoir 107 Days about the loss to Donald Trump, told the newspaper, "I was the Democratic nominee for president. I came close to winning. Of course I do."

While Harris sought to project continued influence, insiders told The Journal that the book tour and the accompanying reaction show her leadership is faltering within the party. Some longtime supporters say they are ready to move on, while more vocal Democrats publicly question her re-emergence—particularly the memoir, which surveys her choices for a running mate and criticizes former President Joe Biden. In the book, she describes Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as overly ambitious and Pete Buttigieg as potentially risky to run alongside a Black woman. Harris’ return to the national stage has also drawn attention to internal party dynamics and the challenge of unifying a broad coalition ahead of 2028.

Harris has argued the book is not a tell-all but "a journal of my experience running for president of the United States." She also addresses Biden’s health in the narrative, noting that Biden "got tired" but said she does not believe it was incapacity; "If I believed that, I would have said so. As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country."

The former senator has also drawn scrutiny for remarks in other interviews. She angered a growing far-left faction in the party by not naming socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani by name in an MSNBC interview, instead saying she supports "the Democrat" in the New York City mayoral race. In the Journal interview, Harris was more definitive, saying, "No, I did endorse Mamdani." When pressed about divisions within the party over priorities, Harris said there is broad consensus about the priorities of the moment and that she is focused on those issues. Harris has also signed with Creative Artists Agency to represent her in speaking and publishing engagements, with reports that she is seeking about $250,000 per speech.

The episode highlights a broader debate inside the Democratic Party about leadership and legacy as the party balances moderate and progressive wings. Some supporters worry that Harris’ memoir and public remarks reopen old questions about how she would describe her own tenure as vice president and how that record would be judged against Biden’s administration. Critics point to the perception that her rise stalled after a disappointing 2024 bid and that her next steps—whether a 2028 bid or a continued presence within the party—remain unsettled.

As Harris plots her next moves, party insiders acknowledge a shifting landscape for leadership within the Democratic ranks. A number of longtime allies and donors have signaled openness to new faces, even as others defend Harris’s role and insist she remains a central figure in shaping the party’s direction. The debate over her place in the lineup, the implications of her memoir, and the trajectory of her public persona will likely influence conversations within party circles in the weeks and months ahead.