A prominent Democratic strategist is signaling that Kamala Harris may already be finished inside her own party.
James Carville, a veteran Democratic consultant and longtime party insider, says Illinois Governor JB Pritzker could emerge as the Democratic Party’s strongest option for the 2028 presidential election. At the same time, Carville made clear he does not believe Harris has any realistic path forward.
Carville, who first gained national attention as the lead strategist behind Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential victory, shared his assessment during a recent interview with Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo.
With President Donald Trump serving his second term and constitutionally barred from seeking another, Democrats are already positioning for a wide-open and potentially chaotic 2028 primary.
“If I had to pick one person right now, I’d go with JB Pritzker,” Carville said, pointing to the Illinois governor’s aggressive campaigning style and national visibility.
Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, is currently seeking a third term as governor of Illinois. In recent years, he has also made multiple appearances in early primary states, quietly fueling speculation about national ambitions.
But when the conversation turned to Kamala Harris, Carville’s assessment was blunt.
“She has no chance,” he said.
Harris became the Democratic nominee in 2024 after Joe Biden abruptly withdrew following a widely criticized debate performance against Trump. Harris went on to lose the general election, with Trump narrowly sweeping all seven key battleground states.
According to Carville, that loss has permanently damaged Harris’s standing within the party.
“No Democrat wants anything to do with anyone connected to 2024,” he said, arguing that party voters are eager to move on from that election cycle entirely.
Carville also questioned whether Harris could successfully mobilize key Democratic constituencies if she attempted another White House run.
Looking ahead to 2028, Carville said the Democratic Party’s guiding principle is simple: win.
He argued that party leaders are no longer focused on symbolism or identity politics and instead want candidates they believe can compete nationally.
“If the party nominates two white guys, nobody’s going to care,” Carville said, underscoring what he sees as a major shift in Democratic strategy.
Carville also expressed doubts about progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, despite acknowledging her intelligence and political skills. He suggested that the party’s increasingly activist tone has alienated male voters and working-class Americans.
“Democratic culture became very judgmental,” Carville said, adding that it pushed away voters the party once relied on.
When asked about other possible contenders, Carville mentioned former New Orleans mayor and Louisiana lieutenant governor Mitch Landrieu, though he noted Landrieu previously passed on a presidential run and later served in the Biden administration.
Carville also placed blame for Trump’s electoral success on past Democratic leadership.
He criticized both Barack Obama and Joe Biden for decisions following the 2008 financial crisis, particularly the federal bailout of major banks, which he said angered voters who felt ignored.
“We bailed them out,” Carville said, arguing that Democrats failed to hold powerful financial interests accountable.
But his strongest criticism was directed at Biden.
Carville argued that Biden’s delayed decision to step aside directly contributed to Trump’s 2024 victory.
“If Biden had exited the race in September of 2023,” Carville said, “this election wouldn’t have been close.”
As Democrats quietly search for new leadership and direction, Carville’s comments highlight a growing reality inside the party: Kamala Harris appears sidelined, internal divisions remain unresolved, and Donald Trump’s influence continues to shape the political landscape.
