Surprising poll reveals what Kamala Harris might do next
Former Vice President Kamala Harris would easily win a race for California governor in 2026 if she wanted the job.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris would easily win a race for California governor in 2026 if she wanted the job.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited from running again, leaving the race open in 2026.Â
Internal polling shared with the Hollywood Reporter shows the former vice president running away with the race if she ran, even as billionaire Rick Caruso is eying the race.
In 2022, Caruso lost a close race for mayor of Los Angeles to Rep. Karen Bass, despite spending $104 million in his campaign, most of it from his own funds.
The government mismanagement of the Los Angeles wildfires in January has damaged the political reputation of Bass and other state Democrats, giving Caruso a possible opening in the heavy Democratic state.
'If Kamala gets in the race, it will be hers to lose,' a political consultant monitoring the former vice president told THR. 'She may not have performed on the national level, but if you look at her track record in California, sheâs done extremely well.'
Harris lost her presidential race in 2024 to President Donald Trump but she remains popular in California despite some voters in the state shifting to the right.Â
It's unclear whether Harris wants to run for governor, as going back to California and running for state-wide office could be seen as a step back in her political career after serving as vice president.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the National Action Network
The path is not unheard of.Â
Former Vice President Richard Nixon lost his presidential race in 1960 against John F. Kennedy and ran for governor of California two years later. His campaign for California governor failed, but he ran for president again in 1968 and won.
Democratic insiders fully expect Harris to run for president again in 2028, even though her 106 day presidential campaign came up short against Trump after she replaced Biden.
Harris is already leading the race for the Democratic nomination, largely thanks to her name recognition from the last campaign.
A McLaughlin poll published in January showed Harris leading with 33 percent over second place potential rival Pete Buttigieg at nine percent and Gov. Gavin Newsom in third place with seven percent.Â
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris gives a statement after visiting a fire station
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly keeping her options open as she weighs her political future
Rick J. Caruso, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Caruso Affiliated is reportedly eyeing the race
Speaking to the National Action Network before she left office, Harris urged her supporters to stay in the fight.Â
'We must be strong and that whatever the outcome of any particular moment, we can never be defeated,' she said. 'Our spirit can never be defeated, because when that happens, we wonât win.'Â
After leaving the vice presidency in January, Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff immediately went to Los Angeles and visited firefighters and served food to wildfire evacuees.Â
'We wanted to come out and in particular to this extraordinary community, and just let people know that we see them and that they are cared for,' she said.Â
Since then, she has remained mostly quiet as she weighs her political future.Â