Kamala Harris Prepares for Potential 2028 Presidential Run
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly laying the foundation for a possible third presidential campaign. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, she’s been engaging with major donors, hiring new staff, and making trips to key battleground states.
While Harris has expressed to her associates that she’s not yet made a definitive choice about another run for the White House, the steps she’s taking suggest she’s considering a 2028 bid. The Journal noted this information comes from several individuals familiar with the discussions.
Recently, Harris linked her potential future plans to the upcoming November midterms, stating at a NAACP event in Michigan that the results of this cycle would impact what happens next. “I have not decided if I’m going to run again,” she shared, receiving a lengthy standing ovation from the audience. “I do sincerely believe ‘28 won’t matter if we don’t get through ‘26.”
In the lead-up to the midterms, the former Democratic nominee has participated in several fundraising events in California and joined a Democratic National Committee initiative to get out the vote, encouraging over 2,000 volunteers to engage in door-to-door canvassing efforts across multiple states. She’s also assembled a team of advisers, including her chief of staff, Candace Bond, a former ambassador, and communications director, Eduardo Negrón.
Harris’s campaign fund raised over $10.3 million from January to September 2025, with approximately $8.5 million sourced from small contributions under $200, as indicated by Federal Election Commission filings.
However, not everyone close to her is entirely convinced about a run. Some of her donors have expressed that they believe a bid might be a long shot. Additionally, her husband, Doug Emhoff, has reportedly shared that he’d prefer she not run, yet those who know him well think he would support her campaign if she chose to proceed.
Concerns also appear to be reflected among her financial backers from 2024. The Los Angeles Times reached out to numerous top donors from a significant pro-Harris super PAC and found there to be a lack of enthusiasm for another attempt at the presidency.
One prominent donor stated, “I think it is too early to pick a favorite in the 2028 race, but Kamala Harris will not be my candidate.”
Despite these challenges, Harris continues to lead in several hypothetical polls for the 2028 Democratic primaries and maintains solid backing from black voters. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a possible rival, remarked in a September CNN interview that he would not run if Harris entered the race, describing a dual-Californian primary as a “gift from God for everybody else.”
This comes after a tumultuous 2024 cycle where Harris secured the nomination without an open primary following President Joe Biden’s sudden exit but ultimately lost to President Donald Trump in both the Electoral College and the popular vote. Harris first hinted at her interest in a future campaign in April when she mentioned to the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network convention that she “might” consider entering the race.
