Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the United States, is said to be considering a bid for governor of California. This announcement follows her 2022 loss in the Los Angeles mayoral election. As Harris assesses her possibilities, she works closely with her aides to land assertively. She advocates for deep research and demands tough questions be answered around whether a campaign is possible or not. The deadline to formally declare her candidacy for the 2026 primary is only 10 months away. Others, like us, are waiting with bated breath to see how her pilots shake out.
On a break from politics as she writes her forthcoming book, Harris is still honing her political vision. She’s currently working with a writer to turn her vision into reality. This project further complicates her mission, especially with an eye toward building her own political career. Despite losing the mayoral race, Harris maintains significant goodwill among Democrats, making it challenging for her to step away from pursuing a high-profile office. And beyond her state-level interests, a possible run for governor would impact her long-term national ambitions, including a potential 2028 presidential run.
As Harris, an extraordinary talent, mournfully and contemplatively weighs her political future. At the same time, for the long term, she is thinking about what leadership California will need. Her recent politics aside, her speech in San Francisco was hardly focused on California politics. This decision points to her ongoing influence in the national political landscape. Now, some key players in the Democratic Party are shifting their tune. They have begun to backtrack on previous indications that they would be supporting her candidacy.
The Groundwork for a Gubernatorial Campaign
Kamala Harris is no stranger to California political campaigning, or for that matter, national campaigning. She put down enough early infrastructure for a smart gubernatorial layup in 2018 before deciding to go for a Senate seat, which she did. She’s mulling an improved run for an executive or county-wide role. To get ready, she’s building out an organizational team and running polls on her own to test support between the likely Democratic electorate.
Harris’s forward-looking strategic planning involves laying the groundwork in party infrastructure and, perhaps more importantly, effective message communication. Core elements of any victorious campaign. The pressure is on local Democratic leaders to find a candidate with the temerity to challenge the status quo and tackle the city’s most pressing issues. Xavier Becerra, California’s Attorney General, emphasized the need for proactive leadership:
“Right now, you need a candidate for governor who’s willing to run toward fires.” – Xavier Becerra
California’s political landscape has big challenges ahead. To make matters worse, California’s new governor Gavin Newsom has just announced a projected $22 billion budget shortfall. The state with the fourth-largest economy in the world is ground zero for issues like high living costs and infrastructure needs. Political insiders like former Gov. emphasize that there is a growing impatience for candidates to lay out their plans for California’s future.
Former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been visible with his stated desire to enter the race. He asked Harris to join him. He remarked:
“I welcome her in this race, but I say if you’re getting in, get in.” – Antonio Villaraigosa
Villaraigosa’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among political figures who are eager to see clarity regarding Harris’s intentions.
The Impact of Timing and Decisions
Harris’s undisputed gubernatorial run could do a lot to determine just how strong her ambitions to become president in 2028 are. Given the jaw-dropping amounts of money being spent on ads supporting current frontrunner Rep. A top Democratic Party figure noted:
“The race is frozen until she makes a decision, and I think everyone’s experiencing the frustration with that.” – Top Democratic Party figure in California
So where is Harris now In the logical voter’s journey, Harris is at a make-or-break moment. Various party leaders are pushing her to act swiftly and decisively. Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Labor Federation, echoed this sentiment by stating:
“It feels like there’s going to be a real need to focus on doing the job – not what’s your next job.” – Lorena Gonzalez
And with California facing a $22 billion budget deficit thanks to unintended consequences of the pandemic and bad leadership decisions, the time for strong leadership is now. Further changing the game Some leaders think Harris’s entry into the race will flip the script. And they hope to see candidates pivot their tactics in advance of her decision.
The Road Ahead
As Kamala Harris decides whether to enter the race and challenges Jerry Brown’s incumbent power, she faces a particularly complicated political landscape. In many ways, her past experiences, as well as her current duties as Vice President, all shape her approach to this possible campaign. Her inner circle is reportedly doing their homework and mapping out a game plan to make sure she arrives at a fully-informed decision.
Political veterans such as Jerry Brown have been known to opine on the corrosive influence of ambition on political life. Brown observed:
“A politician is somebody who runs for office. If they’re out of office they’ll be looking for ways to get back into office.” – Jerry Brown
This comment highlights the natural inclination that exists within any politician to avoid disappearing from the map and losing their clout inside their respective party.
Minyon Moore, a veteran Democratic strategist, said she believes Harris can still do great things. She stated:
“I have no doubt that if she chose to run for governor, she would be an exceptional servant of that state.” – Minyon Moore
Author’s Opinion
Harris stands at a pivotal crossroads. Her potential run for governor isn’t just about reclaiming a political foothold—it signals how she might position herself for national influence in the years ahead. The state of California demands bold leadership capable of addressing deep economic and social challenges, and Harris has the experience and profile to rise to that call. However, the clock is ticking, and hesitation risks eroding support from both voters and party leaders eager for decisive action.
Featured image credit: Welcome to the Jungle
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