Former Vice President Kamala Harris told “Good Morning America” on Tuesday that she regrets not personally questioning President Joe Biden about his decision to run for reelection.
In an interview with co-anchor Michael Strahan, Harris said it was “reckless” of her not to speak up about her concerns.
“Do you regret not voicing your opinion in that moment?” Strahan asked. Harris, who released her campaign memoir 107 Days on Tuesday, replied, “Yes, and I actually have reflected on that, and I’ve written about it.”
When asked if speaking up would have made a difference, Harris said, “I don’t know, but I can only take responsibility for myself. On reflection, I ask myself, ‘was it grace not to bring it up, or was it reckless?'”
She added, “I do reflect on that and feel it was — it was reckless not to raise it with him.”
Harris explained that she hesitated because she worried her concerns would seem “self-serving.”
“I talk about what was going through my head to not bring it up—it would come off as self-serving and maybe lack credibility,” she said. “But I do think about it.”
She also said her concerns about Biden running for reelection were separate from her respect for his ability to serve as president.
Later on The View, Harris spoke about her loss, saying she experienced her deepest grief since her mother died in 2009.
“I’ve always done family and friends dinner on election night, but that night, I grieved in a way I haven’t since my mother died,” she said. “It was not about losing a race. I knew what it was going to mean for the country.”
She reflected on a 2024 campaign interview where it took her almost 30 minutes to explain how she differed from Biden. Harris said that moment showed her loyalty and that she didn’t want to seem critical of him.
Harris also said she believed talking about her policy proposals on the campaign trail was enough. “I thought I was making the point, but I realize now I didn’t fully see how much people cared that President Biden was unpopular,” she said.
When asked by co-host Sunny Hostin if her interview “tipped the election,” Harris said, “No.”
Co-host Joy Behar suggested that race and gender were factors in her loss and asked if Harris thought America would elect a woman in Behar’s lifetime. Harris said, “I believe that we will.”
“Every office I’ve held, I’ve been the first woman, and often the first woman of color,” Harris said. “Race and gender can affect how some people vote, but my focus has always been on being the best person for the job, not just as a woman or person of color.”
Looking ahead, Harris said the Democratic Party should focus on Americans’ immediate needs instead of only long-term projects like infrastructure.
“I think the 2024 election showed that people want their immediate needs met,” she said. “If we had done it differently, the Build Back Better plan would have prioritized affordable child care, paid leave, and other urgent needs first.”
“So going forward, meeting immediate needs must be a priority, along with planning for long-term issues,” Harris added.
