Kamala Harris’ Decision on 2026 Governor’s Race Hinges on 2028 Presidential Run
Top aides and those close to Kamala Harris are divided over whether she should run for California governor in 2026, with some believing she can win the Democratic nomination for president in 2028 and others worried she may fizzle out and lose to her own party.
Harris has not yet made a decision, but those around her believe she needs to decide by the summer of 2025. Running for governor would require her to give up on her presidential ambitions, which she feels were unfairly cut short this year. If she decides to run for governor, she would need to articulate a clear rationale for getting into the race that is connected to her presidential campaign and not just being anti-Trump.
Some of Harris’ advisors believe running for governor would be a step down from her presidential ambitions and would interfere with her ability to run for president again in the future. Others believe the potential payoff of running for governor is worth the gamble.
Harris has kept a low profile since her concession speech, appearing at only a handful of public events and making thank-you calls to donors and supporters. She is expected to deliver a speech to high school and college students on Tuesday, but it will be a more generalized message about her future plans rather than a hint at her own plans.
The only person to win the White House on a second try as the party nominee was Richard Nixon, who first tried retrenching with a gubernatorial run and lost. Trump is the only other president to return to office after a loss since Grover Cleveland over 100 years ago.
Harris would have to be hoping for buyer’s remorse from Trump voters and convince a wide array of party leaders who temporarily shelved their skepticism about her after Biden dropped out, but are now privately cold to the idea of another run.
If she decides to run for governor, she would need to articulate a clear rationale for getting into the race that is connected to her presidential campaign and not just being anti-Trump. Some potential candidates are already checking in with each other, wondering if they will fall in line or launch a campaign of their own.
Historical parallels and defying history
