As Vice President Harris prepares to leave office on Monday, facing an uncertain future after an unprecedented year, advisers and allies are privately considering her next steps.
Harris, who became the Democratic presidential nominee overnight last July after President Biden abruptly withdrew from the race, will spend the next four years preparing for a new run in 2028, when President-elect Trump will be ineligible to run. may be spent. For re-election.
He could consider running for governor in his home state of California or retiring from public office altogether.
“There are currently discussions going on among her advisers about whether she should serve in any capacity and, if so, which one,” said one ally who has met with Harris and the vice president in recent weeks. said this:
Three people close to the vice president said Harris is keeping her options open, but is giving a lot of thought to continuing in the public service she has held for more than 20 years.
“Why doesn't she run again?” said a second longtime ally.
It's a question many of Harris' advisers have been asking in recent weeks, including at a recent black-tie event at the Naval Observatory last month for Harris' aides and friends.
At a December soiree, Harris' key allies privately debated her options. “No one thinks this is what she deserves in terms of public office,” the ally said. “This is exactly who she is.”
Since conceding to President Trump in November, Harris has kept a low profile in public, refusing interviews and setting a limit on her term as vice president.
A person close to Ms. Harris said she is still systematically piecing together what happened in the presidential election. In the coming weeks, she is expected to “think seriously” about her future path after stepping down, one source said.
“It's been a long time since she's had time to think about her next steps,” a third Harris ally said, given her grueling schedule as vice president and Biden's running mate and in the wake of Biden's decision. He pointed out his own candidacy and spoke. To leave the race. “She has had little time to process the past few months and think about whether she wants to try again.”
NBC News reported Wednesday that Harris decided to write a book soon after retiring.
“Kamala Harris is poised to land the biggest book deal ever for a vice president,” said literary agent Keith Arburn. “But the real question is not progress, but whether this book can redefine her for 2028.”
At the same time, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is making moves to return to the private sector and is discussing the possibility of landing in New York, one person familiar with the matter said.
As for Harris, Jamal Simmons, who served as her communications director until 2023, said Harris has several months to decide on her next steps.
“She shouldn't do anything until spring,” Simmons said. “She's been on the fastest, most intense treadmill ever, so she can catch her breath, have fun with her friends and family, think about her time serving the public, and start talking about what to do next.” Should.
“The last thing you want to do is jump into a long-term commitment unless absolutely necessary,” he says.
A third Harris ally also warned that if Harris wants to run for president, she shouldn't run for governor because of the potential conflict of interest.
“Imagine if she ran for governor and lost,” said an aide. “Then it would be game over.”
At the same time, one major Democratic donor said Harris should consider a gubernatorial run rather than another presidential run. The source suggested that the extent of Harris' loss to Trump (she lost all seven battleground states in the race) undermines Democratic confidence in her potential 2028 candidacy.
“Listen, there's no way she's going to make it through the primary. That's the reality,” Donner said.
If Harris decides to run for president in 2028, she could face California Governor Gavin Newsom, who shares many advisers and donors with Harris.
Newsom, who has recently come under intense scrutiny as wildfires continue to rage in the state, has long been seen as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. But Harris' supporters say that should not deter her from running.
“Everyone who wants to run for president should run for president,” said a third Harris ally. “Now is not the time for backroom deals and negotiations. The question is who is the best messenger for Democrats.”
“It's like the lottery. If you want to win, you have to play,” the ally said.
There could be more names in the 2028 race than just Harris and Newsom. The short list includes Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Sen. John Fetterman (D). (Pennsylvania), former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and members of Congress. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.).
In any case, those who know Harris well say the transition from vice president to private life has been difficult for her, given that she has held successive public offices as California district attorney, state attorney general, and senator. It is said that there is a possibility that He will serve as Biden's partner.
“She has spent most of her adult life as an elected official, so the prospect of leaving public office must be disturbing to her,” said a third ally.
