The former vice president’s decision to skip running for the governor of California has changed the political mathematics of her party and returned to her hometown.
Kamala Harris says he’s not running for California governor
Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced he would not run for California governor, but did not rule out another bid for the presidency.
She’s out, but is she really still inside?
Kamala Harris has concluded months of speculation about running for California governor on July 30th. “For now,” she said, her leadership and public services would not be in the elected hall of power.
Only Harris knows how long it will last, But her decision, which is expected to be a Democrat field full of jams, appears to be ready to jump as a dip in President Donald Trump’s approval number.
“I’m proud to vote for Kamala Harris,” Los Angeles-based musician Ricky Davila said in a July 30th X post, in response to her decision. “It always breaks my heart to be deprived of our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be fantastical.”
But the choice comes as Democrats turn the page, especially in asking questions surrounding the former president’s unprecedented exit from last year’s race.
Below are five takeaways on Harris’ big hit decision and what it means for Democrats in the future.
Harris declines California Gov. Marks ’28 kickoff
By visiting early states, launching podcasts and attracting thousands of people at rallies across the country, 2028 Democrats have already betted on the ground.
But that means Harris has forgotten to bid for the California governor. It means that now there will be new speculations about whether she wants a third bite with an apple. It will change the calculus of not only some candidate competitors, but also left-leaning advocacy groups and key voters.
Longtime Harris’ allies have been bullish, saying the 60-year-old Democrat brand remains strong. When asked about her future, they were dull.
“She can do whatever she wants to do, but she owes nothing to us,” CNN commentator Bakari Sellers told USA Today. “She’s a talent, and 2028 could be that, or 2032. Whatever she decides. She’s young.”
But a month before Harris’ decision, an Emerson College survey showed her support in the hypothetical 2028 contest as other names emerged.
In the Mock Democrat primary, 16% supported former Transportation Director Pete Buttigigue, with Harris at 13%, current California governor Gavin Newsom at 12%, and Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro and New York Sen. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 7% each. According to a June poll, 23% had more voters undecided.
Returning to the national stage, there are Biden’s baggage
If Harris returns to the national stage, there’s no doubt that Harris will become the most terrifying competitor and popular figure on the base. She has the highest name ID and the widest funding network of potential candidates currently rumoured.
But she also has a decent portion of her luggage from the 2024 campaign. This collapsed after Biden’s poor debate performance, reminding the public about his age and vision.
Harris’ return risks reopening the wounds and questions about her role and decision-making during the Biden administration, as the party tries to heal after bypassing the public autopsy on losses last year.
The former VP said in a statement on July 30th that her immediate leader would be dedicated to “supporting the election of Democrats across the country.” The first test of that appetite for Harris is ready for November as a key race for the governors of New Jersey and Virginia, as the two states she won in 2024.
Both Rep. Mikie Sherrill of DN.J. and Abigail Spanberger of D-Va are Democratic governor candidates for their respective states. It tells us how enthusiastic they and other Democrats are, especially in battlefield states and swing districts, how enthusiastic they and other Democrats are, whether this year or in the middle of 2026, returning to the Harris trails, how enthusiastic they are, how enthusiastic they are, how enthusiastic they are, how enthusiastic they are, how enthusiastic they are, how enthusiastic they are, how enthusiastic they are, how enthusiastic they are, how enthusiastic they are, whether this year or in the middle of 2026.
“I’m excited to help (Harris) hit the road and travel around the country to help him turn his house upside down and return to Congress,” D-Calif Rep. Robert Garcia said in a July 30 post on X, “Let’s Go!”
“107 Days”: Harris debuts a new book
Harris has given him another obvious part of the news after handing over the race of the California governor. She came out a book about her experience entitled “107 Days.” This was the length of her abbreviated campaign.
“Since I retired, I spent a lot of time in my time and with honesty and reflection and wrote behind the scenes description of that journey,” Harris said in a July 31 post on X.
It remains to be seen how much of it becomes clear about last year’s campaign, mainly Biden’s health, and how everything fell when she received the party’s nomination.
Simon & Shester, the New York-based publisher behind the book, promotes it as a “page messed up account” with “amazing insights,” so while we hope that political observers will pour out if they endure the hype, the book gives Harris the chance to go back to the road and maintain her overview.
Don’t expect 2028 hopefuls to retreat amid rising progressive populism
If Harris ends up running for the third time, don’t expect other rumored candidates to simply walk away and allow another cor crown.
Democrats have been engaged in major debates about the party’s future for much of the year, including incisive criticism of Congress leaders about how to effectively challenge Trump.
Also, on the left, encouraging Zoran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City Democratic primary in June, is rising populism. Those within the activists who have left point to a shift, particularly on issues that Harris hit during the 2024 campaign, such as the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
For example, a poll released on July 29 with progress data shows that 78% of NYC Democrats say Israel is committing genocide in the region, and that they are likely to be on their side with the Palestinians.
“The dam has broken,” said Margaret Dereus, executive director of the Middle East Understanding Institute, which was commissioned to investigate, in a statement. “Just as Democrats consider its future after the loss in November and show recognition that post-poll polls are in a historic low, Zoran Mamdani’s ability to activate new voters with a bold platform for Palestinian rights should be a wake-up call.”
If Harris runs again, it also creates a slightly more annoying scenario when he jokes with some of the same people who judged that the campaign she failed to become her running mate, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, who was on tickets for 2024 but spoke about last year’s campaign.
“We shouldn’t have played this thing that was so safe,” Waltz told Politico in March.
California Governor’s race is now open to the public
Now that Harris is out, the California governor’s race will become a massive derby among the roughly 12 notable candidates who have already expressed their intention to take part in the major battles of 2026.
Among the names is Xavier Beterra, Biden’s former health secretary. Former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigoza. Current Lieutenant Colonel Eleni Kunarakis, approved by former speaker Nancy Pelosi. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, an outspoken Trump supporter. Former Congressman Katie Porter previously ran for the Senate and is a solid progressive who believes many are in the best position to benefit from Harris’ exit.
The University of California, Irvine’s vote released on July 2, showed Harris at 24%, indicating that other candidates were not receiving double-digit support. In California, regardless of party affiliation, don’t forget that the top two finishers are sprinting in the primary elections that go into general elections with a leak.
California, which holds the world’s fourth-largest economy, is considered by most predictors as a safe blue nation, but it is at the forefront of Trump’s immigrant crackdown, marked by violent clashes between law enforcement and left-wing demonstrators.
It has also been featured in news about other issues, such as homelessness and wildfires, with UCI research showing that with a 2-to-1 margin, most Californians believe their condition is on the wrong track.
