Kamala Harris complains ‘the system' is ‘broken' in Stephen Colbert interview after spending $1B on failed presidential campaign – suggests she won't run in 2028
Harris, who announced Wednesday that she wouldn't be running for California governor in 2026, was asked by 'The Late Show' host – in her first post-election interview – if she was perhaps interested in a 'different office.'
'No … it's perhaps more basic than that,' Harris responded.
6 Former Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with Stephen Colbert during her appearance on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' on July 31, 2025.
CBS
'Recently I made the decision that I just, for now, I don't want to go back in the system. I think it's broken,' she explained.
Harris, 60, lost the popular vote, the Electoral College and every swing state to Trump last November, despite raising more than $1 billion for her ill-fated campaign.
'I always believed that as fragile as our democracy is, our systems would be strong enough to defend our most fundamental principles. And I think, right now, that they're not as strong as they need to be. And I just don't want to, for now — I don't want to go back in the system,' the former vice president continued.
'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,' Harris added.
Colbert — a Biden-Harris supporter who moderated a campaign fundraiser for former President Joe Biden before he dropped out of the race — appeared stunned by Harris' reluctance to get back into politics.
'It's harrowing,' the lame-duck talk-show host said of Harris' gloomy view of the state of democracy.
6 Harris' appearance on the talk show is her first interview since she lost the presidential election in November 2024.
CBS
6 Colbert displays Harris' new book '107 Days' during their interview Thursday night.
CBS
'I'm hearing you don't want to be a part of the fight anymore,' a puzzled Colbert continued.
To which Harris responded: 'Oh, absolutely not. I'm always going to be part of the fight.'
Harris's appearance on the 'The Late Show' – her eighth on the program – comes ahead of the release of her book, '107 Days,' which she described as a 'behind the scene sharing of what it means to run for president.'
6 Harris suggested she wouldn't run for the White House in 2028.
CBS
6 Harris described the book as a 'behind the scene sharing of what it means to run for president.'
CBS
The failed presidential candidate described her run against Trump as 'very intense,' but also admitted that she never wanted to be commander in chief.
'There are some people who are born or grow up believing, 'I'm going to be president. I want to be president' – that wasn't me,' Harris told Colbert.
At one point, the funny man pressed Harris on the conversations she was having in the aftermath of Biden's disastrous June 2024 debate with Trump and whether people were telling her 'you should be prepared' to replace the incumbent.
'There were some who did,' Harris revealed, 'but I – listen, it was, it was Joe's decision, and he made that decision.'
6 The failed presidential candidate described her run against Trump as 'very intense,' but also admitted that she never wanted to be commander in chief.
CBS
Colbert later attempted to pin Harris down on who she believes is currently leading the Democratic Party, but the former veep refused to name anyone – instead arguing, 'There are lots of leaders.'
'I'm not going to go through names, because then I'm going to leave somebody out, and then I'm going to hear about it.'
When asked how long she waited to turn on the news after her loss to Trump, Harris quickly answered, 'months.'
'I'm just not into self mutilation.'
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