Kamala Harris Reveals Pete Buttigieg as Her First Choice for Running Mate

In her upcoming book, 107 Days, Kamala Harris, who recently ran for president, shared that her initial selection for a running mate was former Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg. However, she ultimately decided against it, citing the potential risk of selecting someone from the LGBTQ+ community at a time of political uncertainty.

Harris remarked, “If I were a straight white man, Pete would have been the perfect partner.” She reflected on the challenges they were already presenting to the American public by introducing a woman as a candidate, particularly one with a diverse background, which included being a Black woman married to a Jewish man.

“There was a part of me that thought, why not just go for it? But given the circumstances, the whole situation felt too precarious,” she continued, acknowledging that Buttigieg understood this dilemma as well.

Buttigieg, who gained prominence during his own bid for the presidency in 2020, is currently serving as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and was chosen by President Joe Biden to head the Department of Transportation.

Despite speculation about a potential Senate run, Buttigieg announced on social media that he would not be entering the race for the open seat in Michigan following Senator Gary Peters’ decision not to seek reelection. He expressed his concern about future leadership but indicated that he is not interested in competing in either the Senate or gubernatorial races, preferring to endorse candidates aligned with his values.

In her candid reflections, Harris also admitted that she should have encouraged Biden to reconsider his own campaign earlier, contemplating how the dynamics might have been different if she had acted differently.

“In all the turmoil, I should have maybe suggested to Joe to reconsider running. Perhaps it was a mistake not to speak up sooner,” she wrote.

Harris did not shy away from acknowledging Biden’s age-related challenges. While she mentioned his occasional “physical and verbal stumbling,” she maintained that she did not view him as incompetent.

While neither Buttigieg nor Biden has publicly commented on Harris’ statements, some former Biden aides expressed critical views regarding her performance as vice president, suggesting her role was minimal in the administration’s key initiatives.

Overall, the discussion surrounding their relationships and the dynamics within the Biden administration continues to generate interest and speculation.