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Vice President Kamala Harris is at a political crossroads as key advisers and allies debate her next move. The decision centers on whether she should run for governor of California in 2026 or focus on another run for president in 2028. The stakes are high, and the implications for her political future are profound.
Some of Harris’s closest aides argue that her path to the presidency could be more challenging than expected. While she surprised many by raising over $1 billion during her 100-day 2024 presidential campaign, her defeat to Donald Trump left a mark on her political standing. Supporters believe a second attempt at the presidency could be hers for the taking, but others worry that a drawn-out primary battle against seasoned Democratic contenders could spell the end of her presidential ambitions.
On the other hand, the California governor’s race appears to be a much safer bet. Harris’s experience as a former California attorney general and U.S. senator gives her a formidable advantage. Having won statewide office three times, she enjoys significant name recognition and political capital in California. Several major Democratic contenders for governor have reportedly indicated, either directly or through aides, that they would step aside if she entered the race. This would clear the field and give her a strong shot at becoming the state’s chief executive.
According to CNN’s discussions with more than a dozen current and former Harris advisers, as well as top Democratic figures in California, there’s one consensus: Harris likely cannot do both. Winning the governor’s race in 2026 would mean launching a presidential campaign soon after being sworn in, a task that many strategists view as nearly impossible. Running for governor would require Harris to make her intentions clear by the summer of 2025, just months after Trump’s second inauguration.
This timeline presents a dilemma for Harris. If she pursues the governor’s seat, she’d be taking what many see as a “fallback” role, a position of significant power but one that might signal the end of her presidential ambitions. As one of her former advisers noted, running for governor would need to be seen as a “capstone” to her career, not a “stepping stone” to the presidency. “If you’re thinking of running for president in 2028, the worst thing you can do is run for governor in 2026,” the adviser explained.
Still, others close to Harris see value in skipping the governor’s race altogether. One associate argued that running for governor would be a “step down” for the vice president and would interfere with her ability to pursue the presidency. “I don’t know if she’s going to run for president again, but a shot at running for president again is worth giving up running for governor,” the associate told CNN.
The pressure is mounting for Harris to make a decision. The choice she faces will shape her political legacy and future. If she chooses to run for governor, she’s likely to have a clear path to victory but at the cost of national ambition. If she stays out of the governor’s race, she’s betting on a high-stakes presidential campaign in 2028, where competition within the Democratic Party is expected to be fierce.
Her allies are divided, her timeline is tight, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Whatever she decides, Harris’s next move will be one of the most closely watched political decisions of the coming years. Will she take the safe route back to California or gamble on the White House once again? Only time will tell, but her choice will undoubtedly shape the future of American politics.
