Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has described the American political system as “broken” and hinted she may not pursue another presidential run in 2028.
Speaking during her first post-election interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Harris reflected on her 2024 defeat to former President Donald Trump, in which she lost both the popular vote and the Electoral College, despite raising over $1 billion for her campaign.
“I just, for now, don’t want to go back into the system,” she told Colbert. “I think it’s broken.”
Harris, 60, also recently announced she would not run for governor of California in 2026. When asked if she was eyeing another public office, she replied, “No… it’s perhaps more basic than that.”
She emphasized a desire to connect with people outside of political campaigning. “I want to travel the country. I want to listen to people. I want to talk with people. And I don’t want it to be transactional, where I’m asking for their vote.”
Despite Colbert’s surprise at her stance, Harris affirmed she’s not walking away from public service entirely. “I’m always going to be part of the fight,” she said.
Harris appeared on the show to promote her new book, 107 Days, which she described as a behind-the-scenes account of what it means to run for president. She acknowledged that she never aspired to become commander-in-chief. “There are some people who grow up believing, ‘I want to be president’—that wasn’t me.”
During the interview, she also addressed speculation that she might replace President Biden on the Democratic ticket after his widely criticized 2024 debate performance. “There were some who suggested that,” she said, “but it was Joe’s decision, and he made that decision.”
When asked how long it took her to start watching the news again after her loss, Harris answered candidly: “Months. I’m just not into self-mutilation.”
Pressed on who she sees as the current leader of the Democratic Party, Harris declined to name anyone, saying only, “There are lots of leaders.”
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