https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/30/kamala-harris-wont-run-for-california-governor-00484884
LOS ANGELES — Kamala Harris won’t run for California governor, she said Wednesday, forgoing a shot at her home state’s highest post to keep open the possibility of another White House bid in 2028.
“In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their governor,” Harris said in a statement. “I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”
Her decision re-opens the possibility of another presidential campaign by one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent figures. In her statement, however, she expressed misgivings with what she cast as the limitations of government.
“I have extraordinary admiration and respect for those who dedicate their lives to public service — service to their communities and to our nation,” she said. “At the same time, we must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis. As we look ahead, we must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking — committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.”
Harris said, “For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office. I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.”
Harris’ announcement upends the contest to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, which has been largely static as the field braced for a possible Harris candidacy. With near-universal name identification, strong approval ratings among Democrats and a national fundraising network, Harris would have begun the race as an imposing frontrunner.
But there were warning signs that Harris, though formidable, would face some challenges in a quest for the governor’s mansion. Party activists and some donors were lukewarm to her potential bid, still nursing a hangover from 2024 and reluctant to be reminded of her losing presidential campaign. And pressure was mounting for Harris to articulate a vision for governing a massive and complicated state where she has not lived full-time in nearly a decade.
Even Willie Brown, the California political icon whom Harris dated early in her prosecutorial career, cast doubt on Harris’ gubernatorial ambitions in a recent podcast, arguing she was not suited to be an executive.
Some declared Democrats indicated before Harris’ announcement that they would not step aside in deference. Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, ex-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra are among the contenders who insisted they would run regardless of Harris’ plans. Republicans, meanwhile, had giddily anticipated her return as a way of galvanizing their base.
Her lengthy deliberations — met with increasing impatience from Democratic activists and donors, not to mention the other declared candidates — led to a sense her decision was long overdue. But the relentless speculation belied the fact that a Harris gubernatorial bid had hardly been on anyone’s bingo card more than a year ago.
Until recently, Harris dwelled squarely in the realm of national politics — a sitting vice president who represented her country on the global stage and mostly visited her home state for low-key retreats from Washington.
Then came the extraordinary events of summer and fall 2024: President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance leading to him abandoning his reelection bid; Harris’ swift consolidation of party support to become the Democratic presidential nominee; and a warp-speed presidential campaign against Donald Trump that ended with her narrowly losing the popular vote and coming up short in all seven swing states.
After leaving office, Harris has maintained a discreet public profile, limiting any overtly political appearances to a handful of speeches. Behind the scenes, she was consulting with supporters and donors as she weighed the governorship, another White House bid or finding an unelected way to remain civically engaged.
The 2028 primary will be half a dozen Democrats all trying to triangulate on just how many buses to throw trans people under.
The winning Democrat runs on a platform of banning public transit because of all the trans people being thrown under busses and then loses the general for being a pinko dei commie for caring enough about trans people to ban busses
They’ll finally campaign on expanding train services
It’s a reverse trolley problem, where you throw a switch to decide which trolley is best suited to purge us undesirables.
Someone should make one of those memes where all the same groups are on both tracks in slightly different order
i hope i survive the next bus passing thru
and a warp-speed presidential campaign against Donald Trump that ended with her narrowly losing the popular vote and coming up short in all seven swing states.
“narrowly”
They said popular vote, and it was only a 1.5% difference
Oh yeah, it would help if I read the whole sentence wouldn’t it lol. Still it was over a 2 million vote difference, which is funnier considering Republicans rarely actually win the popular vote.
And the popular vote has no influence on the outcome so who cares how narrow it was?
Like yeah, the electoral college sucks ass, but no one has gotten rid of it yet, so we have to play the game.
It’s even more funny because this is significantly worse than other recent losing Democrats who WON the popular vote. So they’re basically admitting she’s worse than other recent losers
1.5 difference is huge, especially given the Dem popular vote advantage
To be fair Trump lost to Biden almost as badly, and he ran again.
So you’re saying I need to become even more fascist to win?
Do it. Run again
I think the emerging patterns of losing candidates immediately running again, usually claiming electoral fraud by their opponents, and Presidents only holding office for one term are interesting. The electoral system is such a shitshow and it’s only decaying.
Edit: EMERGE I did that by accident
Then came the extraordinary events of summer and fall 2024: President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance leading to him abandoning his reelection bid; Harris’ swift consolidation of party support to become the Democratic presidential nominee; and a warp-speed presidential campaign against Donald Trump that ended with her narrowly losing the popular vote and coming up short in all seven swing states.
Let’s try
Joe Biden explicitly exhibited signs of dementia for years, all of which was accompanied by liberal insistence that he was very much himself right up until he got “Old Yeller’d” by his party following a debate performance where he verbally defecated all over the stage. Subsequently, Harris was gifted the defacto nod to be party nominee despite significant opposition and internal turmoil, all of which culminated in her getting fucking pants’d by an open fascist who is dumber than your average 4th grader.
And you want to let her run again?
Truly the actions of a very serious political party.
Yes run again. Can’t stop with just ONE historic loss. Give JD Vance a chance to win the popular vote too.
There’d be something darkly fascinating about watching Vance run under the explicit message that he’d be president on paper but Trump would actually be running things behind the scenes. The Dems would simultaneously spin it as the bridge too far and dooming the GOP while also freaking out that they’re going to lose to him.
Trump by then:
It’s his turn
The former vice president, who weighed the decision for months, keeps her options open for 2028.
This is either a way to string along donors or threaten them, I’m not sure which
I know I feel threatened.
Little of both. I’d say your average dyed in the wool democratic base is like 75% in the bag for her again and the other 25% will be beaten into submission or will stop voting entirely.
You know, if her and her campaign came hat in hand and apologized for not calling a genocide a genocide and not doing enough to stop trump…
I’d still throw my ballot in the garbage when it comes in the mail
Hahahaha yea let’s go, 3rd time’s the charm! Learn nothing and feel awesome!
EMERGE
20 YEARS
Cicada mindset
I hope there’s a door open for a quick fall down some stairs
third time’s a charm
THERE IS NO ONE MORE QUALIFIED TO PROSECUTE TRUMP FOR THE CRIMES HE’S ABOUT TO COMMIT
IT’S
HER
TURN
Hillary 2028 … it’s her turn!
Doing the Joe Biden thing of assuming you’re the only one who can beat Trump (and or whatever Republican runs next), but without ever actually having beat Trump.
Actually, since we’re talking about it, what the hell are the Republicans actually gonna do? There’s a pretty good chance Vance is gonna inherit the presidency before the next election. I don’t think he’s capable of running a winning campaign. I… don’t actually think I’ve seen any Republican who is. After 12 years, are they really anything without Trump? Part of me kinda wonders if they just collapse without him. So much of their current popular support is tied to his specific personality.
It’s time for the Bush daughters to take their rightful place
Tucker Carlson will be a thing soon
That would be great for libs if the Democrats weren’t in the same position.
Obama is to liberals as Trump is to conservatives.