Behind the scenes, several people who worked closely with former Vice President Kamala Harris remain skeptical that she will launch another bid for the White House in 2028.
Although early polls show Harris leading the Democratic field for the nomination, a number of her former aides, advisers, surrogates, and donors do not expect her to run again, according to Axios.
The outlet spoke with eight former Harris aides and advisers, including several who held senior positions, about her prospects for another presidential campaign. Only one said she would probably run. Two viewed the decision as a toss-up, and five said she was unlikely to enter the race.
The former aides cited several factors, including Harris keeping a low profile and doing “the bare minimum” to stay relevant in the presidential sweepstakes. Potential presidential contenders have traditionally spent the pre-primary period building support in early-voting states such as New Hampshire and South Carolina and campaigning for their party’s candidates in midterm elections. Since her stinging election loss, Harris has gone on a book tour and is expected to campaign with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan’s contentious U.S. Senate race.
One former aide told Axios that Harris knows the political challenges she would face in another campaign. The 2028 Democratic primary is expected to be crowded, and Harris would have to convince Democratic voters she could win a general election after losing all seven key battleground states plus the national popular vote to President Donald Trump.
The Harris allies also pointed to fundraising concerns. Some major Democratic donors remain reluctant to support another Harris campaign, while others may be lining up behind other contenders such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. At a Politico panel earlier this month, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman threw cold water on another Harris campaign.
“I think it would be a very challenging path for her, and it’s going to be a very noisy field,” Hoffman said.
His negative assessment came days after Newsom said he’d defer to Harris, insisting he would not run if she threw her hat into the ring.
“I wouldn’t run if she ran,” Newsom told CNN’s Jake Tapper in a viral interview recorded while the two were fly-fishing in Montana.
Tapper later wrote that he was “stunned” by Newsom’s answer.
“Why would I?” Newsom continued. “I won’t waste everyone’s time.”
Newsom argued that a primary contest between the two California Democrats would benefit Republicans and force their overlapping political allies to choose sides.
“First of all, electorally, it’s a gift from God for everybody else,” Newsom said. “They’d enjoy the hell out of it. Mutually assured destruction. It serves no greater good.”
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