CNN senior reporter Isaac Dovere recently shed light on Vice President Kamala Harris’s potential political plans following her devastating defeat. Dovere’s comments, shared during CNN’s Inside Politics on Sunday, revealed that Harris, despite being relatively silent since the election, may not be ready to walk away from politics. Sources close to the VP indicate that she has not ruled out either another presidential run or a bid for California governor in 2026.
Following the 2024 election, Harris’s political future has become a topic of intense speculation. Many political insiders, according to Dovere, believe that Harris has already begun to consider her next steps. Some of her closest advisers, he said, are making it clear that they do not want her “final act” to be the certification of Trump’s victory.
Dovere explained that Harris has been privately communicating to donors and supporters that “you haven’t seen the last of me” and that she’s “not going quietly into the night.” This sentiment suggests that the Vice President is seriously contemplating a future in politics, despite her stunning loss.
According to Dovere, the two primary options currently on Harris’s radar are a gubernatorial run in California in 2026 or a potential second bid for the presidency in 2028. If she were to pursue the governorship, Harris would likely clear the field of Democratic challengers, securing a relatively easy path to the top job in her home state.
However, opting for the California governorship would complicate Harris’s ability to run for president again in 2028. As Dovere explained, she would need to make a decision soon after the 2024 election to ensure she could start building momentum for a gubernatorial campaign, essentially committing to a path that would prevent her from challenging for the Democratic nomination in four years.
In 2024, California began to shift noticeably to the right, signaling potential challenges for Kamala Harris if she decides to run for governor in 2026. The state’s traditionally liberal base saw significant cracks as Republicans made unexpected gains in both state and local races. Conservative candidates made substantial inroads in suburban and rural areas, particularly with messaging that resonated on issues like crime, housing, and economic regulation. This shift was fueled by growing discontent with rising living costs, homelessness, and concerns over public safety—issues that Democrats, including Harris, have struggled to address effectively. As California’s electorate became more divided, the Republican Party was able to win over a larger share of moderate voters, challenging the state’s long-standing Democratic dominance. For Harris, running for governor could be more difficult than anticipated.
Dovere added that some of Harris’s advisers believe that she did not receive a fair shot during the 2024 campaign and that the negative narrative around her performance was unjust.
Some experts believe that any post-2024 presidential bid could expose her to further divisions within the Democratic Party, making a potential second run fraught with risks.
Her campaign history should offer a sobering reminder on the difficulties she might face moving forward. Her 2024 presidential bid, which raised over $1 billion, ended in failure and left her campaign in significant debt. The financial troubles of her campaign, coupled with the broader Democratic losses in the election, paint a troubling picture for any future bids for higher office. Not only did Democrats lose the presidency, but they also saw their control of Congress slip away, with Republicans making significant gains in both the House and Senate. This defeat highlighted serious weaknesses within the party, especially in key battleground states, and left many wondering whether Harris could effectively rebuild trust with voters. As Harris contemplates a run for governor or a second presidential bid, these past struggles could weigh heavily on her future political prospects.
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She hasn’t got a chance anywhere for anything. She’s worse than JA Grewsom, something that I thought I would ever say. She had over $1.5B and ended up -$20M in just over 2 months. That’s really good financial management. Imagine what she would do to the state or the US. Horrible thought. She’s a loser through and through, and she should just go away.
Doesn’t this woman understand that she couldn’t win a bingo game. Yes please run for governor of California. We’re sick of Newsome and his liberal politics. You’re no better, although you have handlers who pull the strings and tell you what to do. After all, you are a Biden protege. Let’s get a strong republican to run against you. Do you think your donors are going to cough up another billion dollars to waste on “feel good” politics. Just drop out, get a job at a fast-food establishment handing out hamburgers.
Unfortunately having watched the people who have been elected inn California, such as Newsom, she can probably get elected in California.
California “deserves” her just like their present loser Governor!