Former Vice President Kamala Harris is revisiting and defending her decision not to run for president in 2024 with Pete Buttigieg “because he was gay,” but now clarifying that it’s because “it would be a real risk” to have a Black woman running with a gay man.
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While speaking with MSNBC News‘ Rachel Maddow in her first TV interview since losing the election to President Donald Trump, Kamala Harris revisited her running mate decision. On Monday evening (September 22), Maddow, who is gay, put Harris on the spot for appearing to scratch Buttigieg off her list of potential Vice Presidents “because he was gay.”
During the sit-down, Harris and Maddow the former VP’s memoir ‘107 Days,’ which chronicled her historically short presidential campaign. Maddow recalled a moment in the book where Harris admitted that Buttigieg, the former U.S. Transportation Secretary, was her “first choice” to join her ticket as a vice presidential candidate. However, she ultimately picked Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota.
In her book, Harris wrote:
“We were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man. Part of me wanted to say, ‘Screw it, let’s just do it.’ But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk. I think Pete also knew that — to our mutual sadness.”
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Kamala Harris Defends Decision Not To Run With Pete Buttigieg ‘Because He Was Gay,’ Clarifies ‘It Would Be A Real Risk’ To Have A Black Woman Running With A Gay Man
Harris said Buttigieg “would have been an ideal partner — if I were a straight white man,” but he was “too big of a risk.” Maddow urged Harris to “elaborate,” adding, “To say that he couldn’t be on the ticket effectively because he was gay, it’s hard to hear.”
Harris quickly interjected to clarify. While shaking her head, she insisted, “No, no, no, that’s not what I said, that he couldn’t be on the ticket because he is gay.” She continued to explain:
“My point is, as I write in the book, is that I was clear that in 107 days, in one of the most hotly contested elections for president of the United States against someone like Donald Trump, who knows no floor — to be a black woman running for president of United States and as a vice presidential running mate a gay man, with the stakes being so high — it made me very sad. But, I also realized it would be a real risk.”
Harris went on to Harris note that she has been an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community her whole life. Therefore, she says, “There was no prejudice on my part, but that we had such a short period of time, and the stakes were so high.” She continued to admit, “Maybe was being too cautious.” Harris then praised Buttigieg as “a phenomenal, phenomenal public servant.”
Pete Buttigieg ‘Surprised’ To Read Kamala Harris’ Thoughts About Risk Of Their Black Woman And Gay Man Identities On A Presidential Ballot
Elsewhere, Buttigieg said concerns about his sexual orientation were “not something that [he and Harris] ever talked about.” On Thursday (September 18), he told Politico that he was “surprised” to read Harris’ thoughts about the risk of their identities on a ballot. He said he believed in “giving Americans more credit” instead of simply assuming they would vote against such a diverse ballot.
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