Political analyst Chris Cillizza expressed concerns on her YouTube channel about former Vice President Kamala Harris making a comeback, suggesting it could hurt the Democratic Party. Harris announced recently that she wouldn’t run for governor in California but left the door open for a 2028 presidential bid. She also revealed that she has written a book about the 2024 campaign and has started promoting it. Cillizza noted that her reappearance could remind voters of “bad times” for Democrats, who are already struggling with public sentiment.
According to Cillizza, Harris’s potential candidacy for 2028 brings up issues that Democrats would prefer to avoid, such as her relationship with former President Biden during his administration. Questions linger about why she didn’t speak more publicly and how the party’s image appears weak and out of touch.
“People aren’t fond of Democrats right now, and I think a lot of that relates to Biden and his transition of power to Harris without a proper vote,” he said. He pointed out that her brief campaign, which lasted just over 100 days, contributes to the Democrats wanting to distance themselves from that period.
Despite lacking significant approval from voters, Harris secured the Democratic nomination for the 2024 election after Biden stepped back and endorsed her in July 2024. Cillizza believes Democrats need to distance themselves from past controversies, suggesting that Harris’s new book could bring back issues surrounding Biden’s cognitive decline.
“It’s tough for me to believe that she wasn’t aware of any of this. What does she address in her book? If she remains silent on certain aspects, she’ll face many questions; if she hints at Biden’s decline, it’ll only prompt more inquiries,” he stated.
Cillizza noted that the book is set to release on September 23rd and mentioned its timing could be significant, possibly overshadowing important upcoming elections in Virginia and New Jersey. He worries that discussing the past may not bode well for the Democrats in moving forward.
While acknowledging that Harris hasn’t ruled out a 2028 run, Cillizza speculated that focusing on past issues could hinder productive discussions about the party’s future. “I don’t think her choice to step back was just a personal misstep; it could actually spell trouble for her political future. Winning the Democratic nomination in 2028 seems unlikely if they remain anchored in the past,” he concluded.
In his closing thoughts, Cillizza emphasized that if the Democratic Party continues to be haunted by its past, it would complicate their ability to progress into the future.
