Former Vice President Kamala Harris returned to friendly ground in San Francisco on Sunday, taking the stage at The Masonic for a packed conversation about her new memoir, 107 Days. Joining her was husband Doug Emhoff, who received as warm a welcome as Harris herself — the ovation was deafening.
Interviewed by comedian D.L. Hughley, Harris reflected on the 2024 election that followed President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race — and her own short-lived bid for the presidency. “It was the closest election for president,” she told the crowd, adding, “Let history reflect that. … It is not a mandate.”
While 107 Days includes sharp commentary and confessions that have drawn criticism, Harris’ talk steered clear of the book’s more controversial revelations — such as her rejection of Pete Buttigieg as a potential running mate or her private doubts about Biden’s age. Instead, she presented herself as a disciplined, forward-looking Democrat determined to rebuild trust and resilience in a post-Trump political landscape.
Harris opened with candor, describing the grief she felt after her loss on November 5. “The only thing I could say when I was told — I couldn’t stop — was, ‘My God, my God, my God,’” she recalled, earning both empathy and laughter when Hughley teased, “I bet that’s not the only thing you said.”
Throughout the hour-long event, Harris urged Democrats not to retreat into despair. “They’re winning if we just get under the covers and say, ‘Wake me up when it’s over,’” she warned. “This thing may get worse before it gets better.” She linked public cynicism to government failures during the pandemic and to the spread of misinformation online, calling on Democrats to counter “gaslighting” that blames struggling Americans for their own hardships.
Her message to the party was clear: stop waiting for a single savior. “Democrats have got to be over what I call ‘The Savior Complex,’” she said. “There are many stars.”
For her supporters, Harris’ homecoming felt restorative. “She was fine,” said Amy Anderson, 52, from the East Bay. “The patriarchy and the haters picked at little things.” Another attendee put it simply: “She just needs to be the messenger.”
