Kamala Harris on Choosing Tim Waltz Over Pete Buttigieg

In her forthcoming book, “107 Days,” Kamala Harris reflects on the choice she made for her running mate, revealing that she initially preferred Pete Buttigieg but ultimately opted for Tim Waltz. Harris expresses concerns that the American public might not be ready to accept Buttigieg, who is openly gay, viewing him as too much of a risk.

She mentions, “If I were a straight white guy, I would have been the ideal partner.” It seems that Harris weighed the complexities of her own identity as a Black woman married to a Jewish man against what she believed the public could handle. She admits to feeling torn, saying, “A part of me wanted to just go for it. But given the political climate, it felt like too great a risk.” She acknowledges that Buttigieg likely shared her sentiments, leading to a mutual disappointment.

Eventually, she settled on Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz. Despite their collaborative efforts, the duo didn’t achieve success in the 2024 election, ultimately losing to Donald Trump.

Harris describes Waltz as a genuine public servant with a unique ability to present liberal ideas in a way that resonates with conservative audiences. She lists Buttigieg as her top choice among eight possible candidates.

She writes fondly of Buttigieg, stating, “I love Pete. I love working with Pete. He and his husband, Chasten, are friends.” Buttigieg made waves on the national stage when he ran in the 2020 Democratic primary and is now viewed as a potential frontrunner for future elections.

Interestingly, a recent Emerson College survey indicated that Harris currently leads Buttigieg in a hypothetical Democratic primary matchup, with 16% compared to his 13% support.