Kamala Harris appears to be quietly positioning herself for a potential third run for the presidency, yet her husband, Doug Emhoff, seems to prefer she not pursue another campaign.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Emhoff has privately expressed to acquaintances his wish for Harris to skip a 2028 bid. Nevertheless, those close to him believe he would support her if she does decide to enter the race.
The Journal also shared that some of Harris’s donors have pointed out that winning in 2028 may be an uphill battle. Similarly, Axios indicated that many of her former aides are not optimistic about her chances, with one estimating the odds as about even and remarking on her cautious, methodical approach to decision-making. Strikingly, only one individual Axios consulted anticipated that she would actually make a run.
Exclusive: Kamala Harris’s husband has privately told people he would prefer she doesn’t run for president again, and some donors have told her a bid would be a longshot https://t.co/rdyv8QGrOq
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 10, 2026
In the meantime, Harris has been actively engaging major donors, expanding her campaign team, and visiting key states to support Democratic candidates in the lead-up to the midterm elections. Her current team includes notable figures such as chief of staff Candace Bond and communications director Eduardo Negrón.
The potential 2028 landscape differs significantly from 2024, especially since the party united around Harris when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Notably, California Governor Gavin Newsom, viewed as a likely candidate, stated in an interview with CNN that he would step aside if she chooses to run, saying, “I wouldn’t run if she ran.”
Despite these uncertainties, Harris remains a frontrunner in early Democratic primary polls. She has publicly kept her options open, stating to the BBC, “I am not done,” emphasizing that she has yet to make a final decision.
Emhoff has transitioned back to private life, resuming his law career at Willkie Farr & Gallagher after nearly thirty years in the field. He and Harris have recently acquired an $8 million house in Malibu, where she has also conducted some business meetings.
