Kamala Announces 2028 Run?
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President who lost her 2024 presidential bid to President Donald Trump, is once again at a political crossroads. With whispers of a second presidential run or a shift to California’s governor’s race, top Democrat officials, donors, and grassroots organizers are increasingly uneasy about her indecision and political future.
Harris has reportedly set a late-summer deadline to announce whether she will run for governor of California, but many within the Democratic Party are already voicing concerns. According to reports from both coasts, her silence is creating confusion, division, and a sense of political fatigue among key party figures.
At recent high-profile Democrat gatherings in California and South Carolina, Harris’s name came up often—but not always positively. While her past experience and name recognition remain strong, enthusiasm around her next move is clearly fading.
“She should run for governor and be the best California has ever had,” said Democrat strategist Amanda Loveday. Yet others worry that such a campaign may simply serve as a stepping stone back to the national stage—and not a real commitment to California’s future.
“Since President Trump took office, we haven’t heard much from her on California issues,” said Madison Zimmerman, a Democrat delegate from Shasta County. “This state shouldn’t be treated as a consolation prize.”
Despite being one of the highest-profile Democrats in California, Harris skipped the California Democratic Convention in Anaheim. Instead, she sent in a brief video greeting that received polite but lukewarm applause. Meanwhile, her potential rivals worked the crowd of over 4,000 delegates, shaking hands and rallying support.
Some delegates are concerned Harris is keeping her options open only to eventually re-enter the national spotlight in 2028. “If she’s just using the governor’s office as a political placeholder, then it feels like my vote would be wasted,” said Carol Weiss, a longtime Democrat voter from Sunnyvale.
Veteran Democrat strategist Roger Salazar admitted that Harris still holds political advantages, saying, “She’s won statewide in California multiple times. That kind of track record is hard to beat.” But even he acknowledged that her prolonged silence is stalling momentum.
Key liberal donors, labor unions, and influential campaign organizers remain on the sidelines, waiting for Harris to make a decision. As Lorena Gonzalez of the California Labor Federation put it, “The longer this drags out, the more likely we’ll see other candidates commit to the race.”
Over in South Carolina, Harris’s name was barely mentioned without prompting—a far cry from her earlier campaign stops in the state. While some party officials, like Michelle Brandt, still view a 2028 run as “exciting,” many agree that Harris needs time to regroup following her defeat by President Trump.
Whether Kamala Harris chooses to challenge for California governor or launches a long-shot second attempt at the White House, one thing is clear: Democrat insiders are growing tired of waiting, and the clock is ticking.
