Recent reports suggest that Vice President Kamala Harris has been skirting the political fringes, signaling to supporters to keep an eye out for her potential political revival. One cannot help but wonder if she is considering a futile bid for the California governorship in 2026, or even a dash for the presidency in 2028. Sources in her camp reportedly stated that she remains obstinately ‘in the fight’ and is expected to ponder upon future antics with her family over the holiday season.
A former campaign aide expressed that there is no apparent rush for Harris to declare another doomed run for public office. This may stem from the awareness that it would perhaps be wise to hold off on publicizing an inevitable failure. Nevertheless, Harris is seemingly caught in a quandary about her role in the political arena.
Betting markets, which have long been recognized as an unreliable gauge of public sentiment, have been toying with the idea of Harris entering the 2028 presidential race. In an open contest expected to manifest from both political parties, she is currently overshadowed by prominent Democrats such as ex-first lady Michelle Obama and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
History has shown little leniency to presidential candidates who lose in their initial run, only to claw their way back to the fray. There are exceptions, of course, such as the victory of Donald Trump in 2020. But can Harris follow suit? The notoriously poor performance of the Democratic vice president during the recent election suggests otherwise.
Harris, first Democratic Vice President to lack the popular vote in twenty years, exhibited embarrassingly low approval ratings during her term. Nearly half of the electorate has a negative perception of her, while only a meager 32% express a favorable opinion. The figures don’t bode well for her anticipated political resurrection.
A post-election poll even showed Harris with a hypothetical 41% support in the 2028 Democratic primary, compared to other potential contenders such as Newsom (8%), Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (7%), and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (6%). Seemingly, this suggests a level of public support. Or is it just standard political posturing, given Harris’ historic unpopularity?
With Newsom reaching his term limit, Harris might see an open door for the governorship. Queries circulate: does she have the gusto for a gubernatorial run? Probably not. Could she win? With these polls, possibly. However, would she enjoy the role? Uncertain. Could she repeat her futile presidential venture? Most likely, considering her relentless political presence.
Harris, after bowing down to Trump’s 78-year-old robust presence, has remained largely invisible. Unsurprisingly, she has even opted for a Hawaiian vacation, a stark contrast to her otherwise manic campaign season. With this holiday, Harris also conveniently lacked the grace to attend the White House ‘losers party’ – a gathering of donors and insiders at the executive mansion.
Harris was unexpectedly thrust into the Democratic leadership role following President Biden’s abrupt resignation from the presidential race. She was given a pitiful 107 days to pull together Biden’s floundering campaign and re-present herself to the very people who had previously rejected her. Now that she finds herself out of time, Harris is left in a lurch, unsure of her standing within her own party and clueless on how to counter Trump’s return to power.
Predictably, Harris’ voice will be sought, but the demand might not last long, according to a source close to her. As Trump settles into his second tenure, Harris must find her place amidst her ensuing irrelevance. Deciding whether to retreat to California or establish base elsewhere is yet another decision she has to grapple with.
As one of her final actions in office, Harris would have to oversee the certification of her electoral defeat – an act which would undoubtedly solidify her failed spot in history. Following Trump’s inauguration, she would experience a significant reduction in privileges, with her Secret Service protection seizing after six months.
Earlier reports have confirmed that Harris has a tendency for deliberation, sometimes excessively so. As per insiders, the likelihood of her having a clear plan at this stage is negligible. This reflects a disconcerting pattern, leaving us to wonder about her readiness for any future political endeavors.
In the end, one thing is clear: whether it’s a gubernatorial run in California or another unwarranted attempt at the presidency, Harris continues to cling onto the thin threads of her political lifeline. She is betting on the fact that her adversity could somehow translate into newfound popularity. However, given her poor track record and rock-bottom favorability ratings, only time will reveal if this gamble is a strategic misstep or a miracle in the making.