John -

Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of traveling across our country to share the story behind 107 Days. At nearly every book tour stop, the question has been asked: How do we stay optimistic about the future of our country? My answer is to remember that we are fighting for something — and that our fight is far from over. Please read my reflections in the latest post I wrote for my Substack.

- Kamala

Reflections from the Road
Gratitude, Community, and Continuing the Fight

Kamala Harris

Writing about the 107 days I spent running for president was like living the campaign in reverse. It meant revisiting every triumph and heartbreak, and it meant an honest assessment of what we experienced, what we learned, where we fell short, and how we tackle the fight ahead with determination and optimism. I believed then, as I believe now, that there is value in sharing our stories authentically. Not as a political exercise, but as an act of connection and understanding.

Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of traveling across our country to share the story of 107 Days. From New York to Houston, Los Angeles to Durham, Birmingham to Portland — tens of thousands of us have come together to share stories, build community, and debate how we move forward. With every stop, this much was clear: We are clear-eyed yet optimistic, and this fight is far from over.

Building Community
One thing I have enjoyed in particular is the incredible breadth of who’s showing up at the book tour. Every age, color, and creed; mothers with daughters, couples on date night, those who came alone and left with friends. It has been a wonderful opportunity for all of us to get together and share moments of laughter, express our fears and vulnerabilities, and resolve to keep in the fight. People are wanting a sense of community, and they found it on this tour.

The Themes That Connect Us
There are a lot of themes that have come up across our conversations, many of which have continued to resonate with me.

What can I do?: My advice is: Do not let anyone take your power from you. The power is still with the people, and we each must exercise our own power, whether it’s attending a peaceful protest or speaking with your pocketbook. I would also point you to your local nonprofits that are doing so much good across our country. So many of them are strapped right now and will invite the time and talents of people wanting to make a difference and lift their communities up. And do not forget — 2026 is right around the corner. Make sure you are paying attention to your local elections and you are ready to make your voice heard at the ballot box.

The threat of mis- and disinformation: One of the most serious challenges we face is the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation. It is a threat to our everyday lives, our politics, and our democracy. We cannot be certain if the person next to us is working with the same set of information, and the result is a loss of trust in institutions and one another. There are no easy solutions, but we cannot sit passively. We must have those sometimes difficult conversations with family, friends, and neighbors. And we, the people, must demand that leaders in government and in the private sector confront it with urgency, transparency, and a commitment to rebuilding trust.

The power of Gen Z: It’s no secret how I feel about Gen Z. This generation has only known the climate crisis. They lost critical phases of their education and socialization during the pandemic. They are entering the job market at a time of incredible uncertainty due to AI. And what I love about this generation is that they show up impatient to make change. Their impatience is fueling an incredible activism, and they are one of our greatest assets as we confront the challenges ahead. I remain inspired by their clarity, their moral courage, and their refusal to accept the status quo.

Gratitude and Continuing the Fight
One of the things I’ve loved about this book tour is being able to thank people in person. I am deeply grateful to everyone who was part of our campaign, to everyone who has read 107 Days, and to everyone who attended events on this tour (or followed avidly on social media). Thank you to the incredible moderators who guided our conversations — whose questions, passion, and perspectives helped us dig deeper — and to the independent bookstores and local venue teams who made this tour possible.

At nearly every book tour stop, the question has been asked: How do we stay optimistic about the future of our country?

The question brings me back to the morning after the election as I made my way to Howard University. I had to reconcile the call and response I ended every rally with: When we fight, we win. The results of that election weren’t as trivial as you win some, you lose some. I still believe that when we fight, we win. But that morning, I knew that sometimes the fight takes a while.

Here’s what I will add one year later: There is joy in the fight. Yes, there will be times where you want to throw something at the TV and times we are upset to the point of tears. There will also be times when we must laugh and sing and dance. All of these coexist, and we should not feel guilty for feeling all of those things at once.

So while the fight may take a while, let us keep in mind that ours is a fight for something, not against something. And we will continue to fight for each other and our future.

With gratitude and optimism, Kamala

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