A number of prominent Democratic donors are reportedly unenthusiastic about the prospect of former Vice President Kamala Harris launching a bid for California governor now that Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited in 2026, according to a revealing report by Politico’s Melanie Mason and Jeremy B. White.
Following her decisive electoral defeat last November, speculation began to swirl about Harris plotting a swift political comeback. Her supporters have highlighted the substantial fundraising haul brought in by the Harris-Walz campaign, particularly after President Biden exited the race, as a key argument for her continued viability as a candidate.
According to the report, Harris and her team were committed to a political comeback and were primarily weighing whether she would run for president in 2028 or enter California’s crowded gubernatorial race next year.
However, as the deadline for a decision nears, Politico reported that the mood within her inner circle has grown notably more pessimistic.
“There was more enthusiasm at first,” said Mather Martin, a San Francisco-based fundraiser who has worked for past Harris campaigns. “I think it waned a bit.”
“Kamala just reminds you we are in this complete shit storm. With Biden, we got bamboozled … I think she did the best she could in that situation, but she knew about the cognitive decline too,” the donor told Politico.
“I’ve written so many checks because I knew the Trump administration would be horrible, but we’re living in a nightmare because of the Democrats. I’m furious at them, truly,” the donor added.
Concerns have been raised by other donors regarding the investigation into Biden’s cognitive decline and the role Harris played in covering it up.
Multiple “stalwart” donors told the outlet that they “feel misled about Biden’s physical and mental acuity. They wonder whether Harris helped bolster his compromised candidacy until it became glaringly obvious in his disastrous debate he was not up for another campaign,” the report said.
Donors “realize it’s just going to bring up the whole pathetic last presidential, which no one wants to hear about again. And then it’s the whole ‘Did you know Joe Biden?’ thing,” another California donor told the outlet on the condition of anonymity. “She still would probably lead, but honestly, no one is incredibly pumped.”
Despite the obstacles, Harris is still reportedly weighing a 2026 gubernatorial run. If she enters the race, she is expected to become the immediate frontrunner, benefiting from strong name recognition, an extensive small-donor network, and the likelihood that several other candidates would drop out in deference to her candidacy.
According to aides, Harris has recently begun a “private listening tour,” meeting with key allies across California to gauge support for a potential campaign. She is also planning a vacation in July to “decompress” before making a final decision, the outlet reported.
Another White House run is also under consideration, as several national polls show Harris either leading or closely trailing potential contenders like Pete Buttigieg in hypothetical Democratic primary matchups.
Notably, Harris continues to perform strongly among Black voters—an advantage that could be critical with the primary season set to kick off in South Carolina, said the report.
Most recently, Harris resurfaced to complain about President Trump’s calling up of the California National Guard to protect federal buildings and immigration enforcement agents after arrests triggered violent backlashes and rioting.
“Los Angeles is my home. And like so many Americans, I am appalled at what we are witnessing on the streets of our city,” Harris began. “Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos.
“In addition to the recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation, it is part of the Trump Administration’s cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division,” she said, adding that the protests were “mostly peaceful” despite widespread destruction to ICE and Border Patrol vehicles, the injuring of ICE personnel, and the burning and looting of shops in downtown L.A.