The private mentoring initiative known as the "Stars Project," led by Vice President Kamala Harris, has come to light through details shared in her memoir, "107 Days." The program, characterized as "secret" and only known to Harris' senior staff, aimed to identify and nurture rising stars within the Democratic Party during the lead-up to the 2024 presidential campaign.
The Stars Project provided selected Democratic lawmakers and officials with personal guidance from Harris, as well as opportunities to secure speaking roles at prominent party events, potentially shaping the future of the party's leadership. Participants included names like Lauren Underwood, Robert Garcia, Angela Alsobrooks, Lateefah Simon, Maxwell Frost, Joe Neguse, Lina Hidalgo, and notably, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).
Meetings took place every Friday, either at the West Wing or the vice president's official residence. Here, the invitees discussed their policy initiatives and strategized on their political advancement with Harris's input. The vice president's mentorship extended to helping them gain visibility and experience through significant speaking engagements, such as at the Democratic National Convention.
Rep. Crockett has become a polarizing figure, stirring controversy with her remarks comparing ICE to "slave patrols" and advocating for defunding the police. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Harris's mentorship appears to have galvanized Crockett's legislative approach. In a speech at the 2024 DNC, Crockett recounted a moving first meeting with Harris that provided her with the confidence boost she needed to tackle her role in Congress assertively.
Crockett's social media posts and public speeches reflect the influence of Harris's mentorship. A particular Instagram post highlighted by the Texas-focused account Howdy Politics and a tweet from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) on September 24, 2025, underscored Harris's role in nurturing Crockett's political career.
The Stars Project illustrates Harris's strategic investment in fostering a new generation of Democratic leaders. By offering her guidance and leveraging her position, Harris has worked to elevate the profiles of selected individuals, potentially impacting the party's direction and political discourse.
The initiative's revelation in Harris's memoir may provoke discussion regarding the methods political leaders use to cultivate talent within their ranks and the implications of such private mentorship programs on party dynamics and the broader political landscape.
