'System is broken': Kamala Harris hints at stepping away from politics; rules out California governor run

In an extended interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, former US Vice PresidentKamala Harris revealed the reason behind her decision not to run for any political office, including the California governorship.Harris said she chose to step away from politics because she believes the system is “broken.” After years of working inside government, she no longer feels that the fundamental principles are strong enough to protect key democratic values. Colbert noted that Harris was leading early polls by a wide margin and asked why she was choosing to step away, questioning whether she was keeping the door open for another political role. The former VP responded , “I am a devout public servant. I have spent my entire career in service of the people. And I thought a lot about running for governor. I love my state. I love California. I've served as elected district attorney, attorney general, and senator. But to be very candid with you, when I was young in my career, I had to defend my decision to become a prosecutor with my family.”“One of the points that I made is, why is it then when we think we want to improve a system or change it that we're always on the outside on a bended knee or trying to break down the door? Shouldn't we also be inside the system? And that has been my career,” she added.

However, as for now, Harris said that she no longer believes in the system’s ability to deliver change.“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 was quick to clarify that her frustration was not directed at those working in public service space, “who do such good work" like teachers and firefighters and police officers and nurses and scientists."And so it's not about them." But, she added, “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.” Colbert, listing Harris’s many credentials, said that hearing such a statement from someone “very qualified for the presidency” was harrowing. “To hear you say that it’s broken… that our systems aren’t strong enough… is harrowing,” Colbert said. Harris responded, “Well, but it's also evident, isn't it?", adding, “I am always going to be part of the fight. That is not going to change. I am absolutely going to be part of the fight.”Her decision not to run for California governor in 2026 ends months of speculation and shifts attention toward her potential role in the 2028 presidential race. For now, though, Harris says she is focused on travelling the country, engaging with people, not asking for votes, but listening.“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.” The interview follows the announcement of Harris’s upcoming memoir, 107 Days, set to be released on 23 September by Simon & Schuster which describes her brief yet historic run for the presidency and offers a behind-the-scenes look of that campaign. “It was an intense experience,” Harris said.

“To run for president in a way that no-one had run before. Well, to run for president, period, but certainly in a way that no-one had done before in 107 days.” Colbert asked what had surprised her most about those 107 days, noting that the public has little understanding of what such a campaign actually demands. “People don't know what it's like to run for president,” Colbert said. “As you said, the way you ran was a very unique one… What surprised you most of what those 107 days took or needed of you?” Harris replied, “Well, one, I mean, just again, to be very candid, my prayer every night was to ask God, I hope I have done everything I could do today.”