Former Vice President Kamala Harris faced swift criticism for saying that it was not viable to have former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg as her running mate in 2024 due to him being gay. In a recent interview with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, Harris was pressed about her stance in her campaign memoir, where she admitted that the decision was not due to any prejudice on her part, but rather out of concern for the political viability of a Black woman with a gay running mate in the face of a high-stakes election against a controversial figure like Donald Trump.
The comments have sparked immediate backlash, with conservative commentator Scott Jennings mocking Harris for what he sees as an incoherent logic, where being gay is considered a bigger liability than endorsing taxpayer-funded sex changes for minors. Sen. Ted Cruz also criticized Harris, arguing that her choice of running mate, Tim Walz, was based on prejudice towards Jewish individuals and that she failed to trust her instincts. Progressive voices, including former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, have also weighed in, criticizing Harris for not trusting her gut in the selection process.
Pete Buttigieg himself expressed surprise at Harris’ admission, noting that in politics, the way to earn trust with voters is based on what they think you’ll do for their lives, not on categories. The discussion has also drawn attention from LGBTQ advocates and the Human Rights Campaign, who have expressed concern over the implications of such statements on the progress of LGBTQ rights in political discourse.
In the wake of the controversy, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has reportedly been considering the possibility of a potential 2028 run by Harris and Buttigieg, indicating that the political landscape may yet be shaped by this incident in the long run.