In the cluttered field of democratic presidential hopefuls, like the parties they hope to lead, there is still no consistent philosophy or plan for victory.
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 has many companies. Former Vice President Kamala Harris closed the doors for the White House bid in 2028 with the California Governor’s campaign next year.
Three years later, the presidential contest is rapidly becoming a fully-employed project for ambitious Democrats. Already hopefuls and frequently mentioned people combine governors with senators, rising stars and formerly promoted stars. There are democratic socialists and centricists, people who vow to fight President Donald Trump every time, and people who advise accommodation when it is possible.
Democratic candidates and perhaps contenders form different groups with parties that can be explained in the same way, lacking a consistent political philosophy or a clear plan of victory.
That’s not a coincidence.
One shapes the other. The persuasive candidates at the top of the town hall forum, debate and primary elections define Democrats. And the consensus on where Democrats stand will affect which candidates are considered persuasive.
But not yet. Republicans are clearly defined and could soon be identified by Donald Trump’s official glowing portraits. But the president, presidential candidate, even frontrunners — or there’s no Speaker of the House or Senate for that — both the Democrats and their White House races are in the wilderness at this point.
Although it is a crowded wilderness.
There were signs of a fight on the Senate floor Tuesday night. When Nevada Democrat Sen. Katherine Cortez Mast tried to fund a bipartisan package, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker accused his fellow Democrats of being “accused” with Trump. “We say we stand, we say we will fight, we say we will refuse this,” he declared.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar – disputes that, like Booker, the run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, would have appeared on the Judiciary Committee when the bill was being considered instead of waiting for a bigger stage on the Senate floor.
How to find a presidential candidate
To identify prospects who want to become president, or at least identify prospects who want to be seen in their work, the key is often not to listen to them. The default attitude is that they love and commit to their work in the Senate and the state capitol.
Instead, see what they do.
Will you gather chits by campaigning for fellow Democrats in 2025 and 2026? check. Would you like to start a “listening tour” to contact South Carolina voters? check. Trump and his handrails for policy? check. Do you stop by New Hampshire during your summer vacation? check. Writing a book about policy prescriptions that have personal anecdotes? check.
Incidentally, Harris announced on July 30 that he was not running for governor of California. On Thursday morning, Simon & Shester announced that they had written a memoir entitled “107 Days,” which recorded last year’s whirlwind presidential election.
The publication date is September 23rd, and it has been less than one year since the election date.
At another time, or at another political party, Harris would be considered an early frontrunner.
She is believed to run a reliable campaign under difficult circumstances, compared to 49.80% of Trump’s, and operate 48.32% of the popular vote. The electoral college count was more biased, 312-226.
But she lost, and past Democrats showed little loyalty to the losers. The last Democratic candidate to lose one presidential election and be nominated for another president was again defeated by Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 at Adris Stephenson. That was eight years before Harris was born.
The record seems to have made Republicans more tolerant. Trump was nominated in 2024 and won after losing to Joe Biden in 2020. Richard Nixon was nominated in 1968 and won after losing to John F. Kennedy in 1960.
Because it could have been Harris’ object lesson, Nixon chose to run for governor of California in 1962, two years after his defeat. “You wouldn’t kick Nixon any more,” he famously and prematurely announced.
Addressing Biden’s legacy
Harris will face another challenge: the ongoing debate about Biden.
The former president’s decision to seek a second term to belatedly withdrawal amid questions about his mental vision contributes to the current Nadir of Democrats. She was his vice president and defender.
Now, the Democratic field is widely open to the 30s record set in 2020, when six names were included before finishing “BS” in a comprehensive alphabetical list.
In 2028, the non-competitive list of people who expressed interest in the presidential race begins with Biden administration veterans Harris and Battigie. California Governor Gavin Newsom, JB Pretzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Wes Moore of Maryland. Senator Booker and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and members of Locanna of California.
Anyone who wins faces an uphill climb. In a new Wall Street Journal poll, only 33% of Americans had a positive view of Democrats. There was a disadvantage to 63%.
That’s a 3 year low.
