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Former Vice President Kamala Harris is opening up about the grief she experienced after losing the 2024 presidential election..
On Tuesday (September 23), Harris appeared on The View, where she likened the grief of her election defeat to the pain of losing her mother.
Harris' appearance came amid the release of her new memoir, "107 Days," which reflects on her historic bid for the White House. The former VP said Tuesday that the night of the election was “one of the most difficult things that I had to reflect on and write about.”
“I’ve always on Election Night done family and friends and dinner,” Harris said. “But that night, I grieved in a way that I have not since my mother died.”
Harris' mother, Shyamala Gopalan, died in 2009 from colon cancer at age 70. The "107 Days" author has frequently spoken about her mother's influence on her life and career, which led her to become the first woman and woman of color to lead a major party's presidential ticket.
Harris said her grief following her election loss wasn't "at all about losing a race.”
“I knew what it was going to mean for the country," she said on Tuesday's episode of The View.
When asked about why she lost, Harris said time was a major factor.
“There are many factors... I think probably one of the biggest in my mind is that we didn't have enough time," she said.
The View co-host Joy Behar suggested that racism and sexism played a role in Harris's loss, but the former vice president pushed back.
“I beg to differ,” Harris said. “I believe that we will [elect a woman president]. Every office I’ve held, I’ve been the first. My history tells me because I have been the first, that people ultimately want to know that this is the best person to do the job.”
Harris also emphasized that her new memoir isn't about former President Joe Biden, but about her own journey after he dropped out of the 2024 race.
“It was important to me that history is written, that my voice be present,” she said. “This book is not about Joe Biden. I love Joe Biden. I also am very clear — Joe Biden was a highly capable president who accomplished great things that history will talk about.”
"107 Days" is out now.
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