A former Biden administration aide is warning that Kamala Harris may have already exhausted her chances of reaching the White House, even as the former vice president positions herself for another possible presidential campaign.
Michael LaRosa, who served as press secretary to former first lady Jill Biden, delivered the blunt assessment Tuesday during an appearance on Fox News’s “America Reports.”
“I don’t think they’re going to give Kamala Harris a third at-bat,” LaRosa told host Gillian Turner.
Harris unsuccessfully sought the 2020 Democrat presidential nomination before becoming Joe Biden’s running mate. She later replaced Biden atop the Democrat ticket in 2024 but lost the general election to President Donald Trump.
LaRosa’s criticism came during a discussion of a new New York Magazine report portraying Harris as the early front-runner for the 2028 Democrat nomination.
The magazine reported that Harris is waiting to see how the midterm elections unfold while campaigning for Democrats, raising money for state parties and maintaining relationships in pivotal primary states. Her allies argue that her nearly universal name recognition and early polling advantages would make her difficult to dismiss if she enters the race.
“She’s been listening to the American people and really trying to figure out what’s impacting them and how she can be of service to them,” Democrat strategist Minyon Moore told New York Magazine.
LaRosa rejected that explanation, arguing that Harris has spent enough time in public office to know what voters want.
“She follows. She doesn’t take risks. She calculates. She doesn’t answer questions, she equivocates,” LaRosa said. “She’s got to get over that if she wants to make a connection with people, but I don’t think she’s going to get a third at-bat.”
Despite his doubts, Harris has publicly acknowledged that she is considering another campaign.
“Listen, I might, I might. I’m thinking about it,” Harris told the Rev. Al Sharpton during the National Action Network Convention in April, according to CNN.
Harris cited her four years as vice president and time spent in the Oval Office and Situation Room as preparation for the presidency.
“I know what the job is. And I know what it requires,” she said.
Her advantages, however, have not eliminated concerns inside the Democratic Party. New York Magazine reported that some major donors and party operatives remain apprehensive about another Harris campaign. Although she leads early national surveys, the magazine noted that her support has generally remained below 30 percent—potentially a warning sign for a candidate with exceptionally high name recognition.
LaRosa said Democrats should instead search for a candidate capable of providing decisive leadership.
“I want somebody who can run the country. I want somebody who is competent,” he said, naming former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg among the Democrats he would consider supporting.
Newsom and Buttigieg have both fueled speculation about possible campaigns, but neither has formally entered the race. Newsom has said any decision would be made with his family, while Buttigieg has continued appearing alongside other prospective candidates at major Democratic events.
LaRosa said his preferred field was not limited to those three names. His broader message, however, was unmistakable: Democrat voters are looking for a leader who will chart a new course—not another candidate who waits to see which way the political winds are blowing.
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