Kamala Harris delivered a notable yet measured endorsement of Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s closely watched mayoral race on Monday evening, a move made even more consequential in light of her recent public reflections on Democratic leadership, regret, and party direction following her 2024 presidential election defeat to Donald Trump. Harris’ remarks, made during an interview with Rachel Maddow to promote her candid book “107 Days,” shone a national spotlight on the increasingly powerful progressive wing that Mamdani represents.
Pressed by Maddow to clarify her position on Mamdani, Harris stated, “He is the Democrat in the race and deserves support. I support the Democrat in this race, absolutely.” This endorsement—while avoiding Mamdani’s name—marked a pivotal moment, symbolizing both party discipline and Harris’ reluctance to fully embrace the democratic socialist left. The contrast with more enthusiastic endorsements from figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was palpable, reflecting deep ideological divides within the Democratic Party as it seeks to recover from its 2024 loss.
Mamdani welcomed even this tepid form of support, saying in a statement reported by The New York Times, “We’re thrilled by the growing wave of support for our campaign.”
Hard lessons from Harris’ defeat
Harris has been unusually candid in both her new book and her recent interviews about her own regrets and perceived shortcomings during her historic but ultimately unsuccessful campaign to succeed President Joe Biden. In “107 Days,” she describes the private turmoil that followed defeat, the difficulty of navigating Biden’s late withdrawal from the race, and her anguish at feeling responsible for not challenging Biden’s decision to seek a second term—despite widespread public concern about his age and stamina.
“In retrospect, I think it was recklessness,” Harris wrote, acknowledging she should have raised objections about Biden’s campaign prospects. “This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition. It should have been more than a personal decision.”
She further expanded on these themes in her interview with Maddow, saying, “I have and had a certain responsibility that I should have followed through on.” Harris admitted her reluctance stemmed from fears of appearing self-serving, given her own ambitions and previous primary rivalry with Biden. “When I talk about the recklessness, as much as anything, I’m talking about myself,” she added.
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.