Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, seriously weighed a presidential bid against his former boss, President Joe Biden, after a contentious 2024 debate, according to an excerpt from a new book. Salazar’s contemplation stemmed from what he perceived as a profound failure by the administration to grasp the severity of the border crisis, an issue he had repeatedly urged the White House to acknowledge. His candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into the internal frustrations within the Democratic Party regarding immigration policy.
A Crisis Unacknowledged
Salazar’s disillusionment reportedly crystallized following President Biden’s July 2024 debate performance. He is quoted telling himself, “I should run for president,” a direct response to the perceived political missteps. The former ambassador consistently advised the administration to label the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border as a “crisis,” a term he claimed was widely used internally even as the White House publicly avoided it. This disconnect, Salazar believed, demonstrated a critical lack of understanding regarding the issue’s political and practical ramifications.
The ambassador’s concerns were not merely academic; he repeatedly stressed the need for a dedicated border czar to manage the escalating situation. He observed that while the word “crisis” was common parlance among officials within the administration, the White House leadership remained reluctant to acknowledge it publicly. This political failure, in Salazar’s view, had significant consequences for Democrats in the 2024 election.
Mayorkas’s Predicament and Harris’s Role
The book excerpt details a revealing exchange between Salazar and then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. When Salazar pressed Mayorkas to adopt the “crisis” terminology, the Secretary reportedly responded, “Ken, I have a lot on my plate already. I’m about to be impeached for all this border stuff. The Republicans have it out for me.” This interaction underscores the immense pressure faced by officials tasked with managing the border and the political tightrope they walked.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who was eventually designated as the administration’s “border czar,” also drew Salazar’s criticism. Despite his advocacy for such a position, Salazar deemed the decision to unilaterally coronate Harris as the party’s 2024 candidate a “mistake,” particularly given her perceived inaction or ineffectiveness in stemming the flow of migration. His comments highlight a deeper dissatisfaction with the administration’s approach to a defining national challenge.
“There was political failure to understand the reality of the crisis at the border, and the political consequence it would have on Democrats in the 2024 election.”
A Path Not Taken
Despite recruiting a team and drafting a presidential platform, Salazar ultimately did not declare his candidacy. His plan was to enter the race if President Biden chose not to run for re-election. However, the Democratic Party’s decision to forgo open primaries and instead select Vice President Harris as their nominee shifted the political landscape, removing the opportunity Salazar had envisioned. This internal party maneuver, as reported by Politico, prevented a direct challenge from within the administration’s former ranks.
The revelations from this new publication, based on excerpts obtained by Politico, underscore the significant internal discord over the Biden administration’s handling of immigration. Salazar’s willingness to consider such a drastic political move, coupled with his pointed criticisms, signals a broader concern among some Democrats about the party’s strategy on a critical national issue. As the nation continues to grapple with border security and immigration reform, these insights provide valuable context to the ongoing political debate.
