Former Vice President Kamala Harris has now reportedly delivered a blunt assessment of her own party this week, warning that Democrats have significant work ahead if they hope to regain momentum after recent electoral setbacks.
Harris made the remarks during an appearance on former Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison’s At Our Table podcast on Wednesday. The discussion covered her unsuccessful 107-day presidential campaign, the broader direction of the Democratic Party, and what she believes needs to change as Democrats look toward the upcoming midterms and the 2028 election cycle. Harris was also on the podcast to promote her new book, 107 Days, which offers a behind-the-scenes account of her brief presidential run.
While Harris highlighted some recent Democratic victories she described as encouraging — including Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City’s mayoral race — she acknowledged deeper problems within the party. According to Harris, Democrats are failing to connect with voters because they remain overly focused on outdated approaches.
“I think that in some ways, we are very much stuck in the past,” Harris said. She argued that Democrats are not communicating in a way that resonates with today’s voters. “We’re not speaking in a way that sounds authentic or relatable or just relevant,” she said. “You know, we got to speak to this moment.”
Harris urged Democrats to be more open to newer voices within the party, even if those voices communicate differently than the party’s traditional leadership. She suggested that while Democrats frequently claim to value listening to voters, that commitment is not always reflected in practice.
“I think that there is a lot that we need to do,” Harris said. “That is about recognizing we give a lot of lip service to listening to the people — but are we really listening?”
Harrison echoed some of those concerns, particularly when it comes to internal divisions. He criticized what he described as “purity tests” within the Democratic Party, arguing they undermine the party’s claim to be inclusive.
“I think these purity tests that we see within our party also are very harmful,” Harrison said. “You know, if we say that we are the big-tent party, then that means you can’t dismiss everybody just because the one issue they don’t agree with you on.”
The conversation also touched on Harris’s political future. She was asked about a recent Axios report suggesting she may be laying the groundwork for a potential presidential run in 2028. Harris downplayed the speculation, saying she has not yet made any decisions.
“I have not made any decisions about that,” she said.
The interview offered a rare moment of candor from Harris, who acknowledged that Democrats face credibility issues with voters and must rethink how they communicate if they want to win elections. Her comments also underscored growing anxiety within Democratic circles as the party grapples with internal disagreements, shifting voter coalitions, and questions about leadership.
For Republicans, Harris’s remarks may confirm what they have long argued — that Democrats are increasingly out of touch with everyday Americans and struggling to adapt to political realities. For Democrats, her warning serves as a reminder that winning future elections will require more than slogans, books, and nostalgia for past successes.
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