One day after formally declining to throw her hat in the ring for California governor, Kamala Harris has unveiled her new memoir, a book following the tumultuous 107-day campaign for president in 2024.
“My new book is a behind-the-scenes look at my experience leading the shortest presidential campaign in modern history,” Harris wrote. The tome, titled 107 Days, will be published by Simon & Schuster on Sept. 23. And — in a pointed choice given the Donald Trump factor in the show’s cancellation — the politician will kick off her media tour with an appearance on CBS’ The Late Show With Stephen Colbert this evening.
The decision to appear on Colbert’s show, her first interview since the election loss, comes as that show is facing cancellation by CBS next year, amid a declining late-night landscape. The cancellation also arrived under the shadow of a deal to sell control of CBS and Paramount to a new owner, Skydance, a merger that was approved by the FCC just days after the show was axed.
“Since leaving office, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on those days, talking to my family, my friends and pulling my thoughts together. In essence, writing a journal that is this book,” Harris said in a video revealing the title. “I believe there’s value in sharing what I saw, what I learned and what I know it will take to move forward.”
The 2024 Democratic nominee for president has kept a relatively low profile since leaving the vice president’s office in January as the Biden administration made way for Trump’s team. Harris signed with Creative Artists Agency earlier this year with plans to focus on speaking gigs and publishing opportunities. (Biden also inked with CAA after leaving office.)
Harris had previously authored two books, 2009’s Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer (Chronicle) and 2019’s The Truths We Hold: An American Journey (Penguin Random House), ahead of launching a presidential campaign in 2020 and then serving as vice president for four years.
Throughout the spring, contenders for the governor’s race in California eyed whether Harris would jump into the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, given that the politician would have become an immediate frontrunner. But ultimately Harris decided against running for state office, which could keep options open for future national campaigns.
“In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor,” Harris wrote in a statement July 30. “I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”