I can’t say for sure what Kamala Harris is planning regarding a potential run for California governor in 2026. I’m not really connected to her decision-making or her close advisors.
Having worked with various candidates considering runs for different offices—from the presidency to local councils—I have some thoughts on what she might want to think about.
Having managed four campaigns for California governor myself, I know this whole process can be really tough and, at times, somewhat humbling for the candidates involved. Voters in the state don’t usually delve deeply into politics; they tend to just catch bits and pieces about different candidates.
On the plus side for Harris, she’s already quite familiar to voters. She’s a known figure, having been part of eight statewide elections, and her roles as vice president, U.S. senator, and attorney general have made her a recognizable name. Still, there are two issues she’ll need to address that aren’t linked to her previous offices.
If she decides to run, she’s likely going to face a lot of scrutiny about whether she would use the governor’s office merely as a stepping stone for another presidential campaign. To counter this, she’ll probably have to make a public commitment to serve her full term, but the real question is whether voters will genuinely believe her promise.
Californians have already seen how the push for the presidency can disrupt a governor’s term.
For instance, Jerry Brown was first elected in 1974, but less than a year into his term, he was off campaigning for president in Maryland and other places. He tried again for the presidency during his second term, sticking around that scene for just over six months.
Then there’s Pete Wilson, who got elected in 1994 but declared his presidential ambitions in just about five months after taking office.
Additionally, Harris might find herself in a tricky spot due to the recent buzz around a new book discussing Joe Biden’s decline, both physically and mentally. Some Democrats have attempted to downplay the book, but a lot of people have seen the alarming moments during Biden’s debates with Trump.
Moreover, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has already started publicly challenging Harris, criticizing her for failing to address Biden’s shortcomings. It might not be long before the media circles in on her as well.
Harris doesn’t have an easy choice ahead. She could choose to criticize Biden, which isn’t exactly pleasant considering his recent health issues and her previous support for him, or she could claim she hasn’t noticed any decline while being so close to him. The situation begs the question—does the emperor have clothes?
Then there’s her previous presidential run. From a democratic viewpoint, it didn’t go well at all. She was the only Democratic candidate who lost not just to Trump, but also failed to garner the popular vote in the last two decades. She lost in seven swing states—five of which had Democratic governors and two Democratic senators. Democrats, more broadly, lost the Senate and didn’t regain control of the House.
Interestingly, she even received fewer votes in her home state compared to Biden in 2020, especially among women voters.
Which of these situations screams, “I should easily land the governorship of the biggest state as a consolation prize?”
While many California Democrats might still back her, even as a sort of rebuke to Trump, pursuing the governorship will inevitably lead to questions about her earlier presidential campaign failures, as highlighted in recent bestselling accounts of the 2024 race, which point out her missteps.
Again, I really don’t know what Harris is considering. But I have some unsolicited advice for her as she navigates this decision. She’s welcome to take it into account.
