Ken Salazar, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico during President Joe Biden’s administration, contemplated a presidential run in 2024. According to a book excerpt reported by Politico, Salazar expressed thoughts of running for president following a poor debate performance by Biden in July 2024.

Salazar expressed frustration about the administration’s handling of the border situation. He urged the government to address the issue as a crisis but felt his warnings were ignored. Salazar believed that failing to recognize the border crisis had political consequences for Democrats in the 2024 elections.

During Biden’s visit to Mexico in January 2023, he was welcomed by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other officials, including Salazar. Despite using the term ‘crisis’ within the administration, the White House was reluctant to label the border situation as such. Salazar shared that he advised then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to acknowledge the crisis, but Mayorkas expressed concerns over political pressure and potential impeachment from Republicans.

Salazar never officially declared his candidacy despite forming a team and drafting a platform. He believed Biden would step down, which did not happen as the party chose Vice President Kamala Harris as the candidate, a decision Salazar viewed as misguided.

Salazar criticized Harris for her lack of impact as ‘border czar,’ a role he advocated for. He felt that her efforts to address migration root causes were insufficient. Salazar argued that, despite being close to the President’s office for several years, her influence on the border crisis was minimal.

Ultimately, Biden took action to close the border in 2024, a move Salazar supported, though he believed it came too late to affect voter perception. He felt that images of an overwhelmed border overshadowed the presidential election’s final months.

In his book, “Borderlands: My Fight For An Inclusive America,” Salazar shares his experience with immigration policy and the challenges within the U.S. system. He has been advising potential Democratic candidates on adopting his ‘borderlands platform.’ Salazar has engaged in discussions with influential Democrats like Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, planning future talks with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.