Honestly, the 2024 election felt like a fever dream that lasted a decade, but for Kamala Harris, it was exactly 107 days. That’s it. That’s the whole window she had to pivot from being the "supporting character" Vice President to the lead on the world’s most intense stage.
Her book, 107 Days, which hit shelves in late 2025, is basically her attempt to set the record straight on what went down behind the scenes of that sprint. It's not your typical "everything was perfect" political memoir. In fact, it's kinda spicy.
The Pivot No One Expected
On July 21, 2024, the world shifted. Joe Biden stepped back, and suddenly, Harris was "Pioneer"—her Secret Service code name—stepping into a role with no lead time.
The book describes the sheer chaos of those first 24 hours. Imagine trying to build a billion-dollar startup in a weekend while half the country is yelling at you. She talks about the frantic phone calls to world leaders and Democratic heavyweights. One of the funniest, or maybe most telling, details? Her call to Gavin Newsom. The note on her log simply said: "Hiking. Will call back."
He didn't call back for a while.
Why the "107 Days" Structure Works
The book is structured like a countdown. Each chapter is a day. Some are long, deep dives into policy debates; others are just two pages of raw exhaustion.
- Suspenseful Pacing: Collaborating with novelist Geraldine Brooks was a smart move. It doesn't read like a dry white paper.
- The "Tea": She doesn't hold back on the friction within the party.
- The Loss: The final chapters dealing with the 1.5% popular vote loss are heavy. She describes the "Madam President" cupcakes that were ready for a party that never happened.
The Biden Friction
This is what everyone is actually talking about. Harris writes that leaving the decision to run for re-election solely to Joe and Jill Biden was, in her words, "reckless."
She admits she was "angry and disappointed" after that June debate. Not because she wanted him out, but because the infrastructure wasn't ready for what came next. She felt like she was handed a "broken" system and told to win a marathon while already 20 miles behind.
A Brutal Self-Postmortem
Critics like to say the book is just a list of excuses. Is it? Maybe a little.
She acknowledges mistakes, sure, but she also points fingers. She calls out the Democratic party for not having a "farm team" ready. She mentions the struggle of being the "last person in the room" for Biden’s decisions, which meant she had to own all his baggage without having the power to change the trajectory earlier.
Key Takeaways from the 2026 Book Tour
Right now, in early 2026, Harris is on a massive tour promoting the book. She’s hitting places like Jackson, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
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Why there? Because those are the places that matter for 2028.
She hasn't officially said she's running again, but you don't write a 320-page "novelistic" memoir and visit the Deep South just to talk about the past. She’s testing the waters. She’s seeing if the "Pioneer" brand still has legs after the heartbreak of 2024.
What to Do Next
If you’re trying to wrap your head around the current state of the Democratic party, 107 Days is mandatory reading, but don't take it as the absolute gospel.
- Read it for the "How": Focus on the logistics of the 107-day sprint. It’s a masterclass in crisis management, regardless of your politics.
- Cross-reference: Compare her account of the "hiking" call with Newsom's inevitable future memoir. There are always two sides to a snub.
- Watch the 2028 chess board: Pay attention to which governors she praises and which ones she "grinds her teeth" over in the text. It's a roadmap for the next primary.
- Check out the audiobook: Harris narrates it herself, and you can hear the "prosecutor" tone come out when she talks about the Silk Road or her debate prep.