Former Vice President Kamala Harris will not run for governor of California in 2026, she announced Wednesday, leaving in place a crowded field of Democrats with no clear front-runner. She left open the possibility that she may run for the White House in 2028.
“In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor,” Harris said Wednesday in a statement. “I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”
Harris lost the 2024 presidential race to Donald Trump after stepping in at the eleventh hour as the Democratic nominee in place of then-President Joe Biden. While she easily won California over Trump in November, her margin of victory was smaller than Biden’s in 2020 because more Black and Latino voters backed Trump.
Harris said that after six months of reflection and consideration of the best ways to continue fighting to advance her values, she decided to take a step back from running for office. But she appeared to leave the door open for another White House bid in 2028.
“For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office. I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans,” Harris said.
Said longtime adviser Sean Clegg: “I don’t think running for president right now is her focus, but she’s not taking it off the table.”
The list of Democratic candidates for governor includes former Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Controller Betty Yee, former Rep. Katie Porter, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Republicans Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, and former Fox News host Steve Hilton are also running.
Harris’ entry promised to reshape the field: Kounalakis said she would bow out if Harris ran, and Porter had said she would likely exit the race, too. Other candidates were also thought to be eyeing a move to other offices instead of running against the former vice president.
“She listened to her instincts about whether she wanted this to be her next big act.” Clegg said. “She very much looks at things from the perspective of, ‘How can I have the biggest impact?’ And, she likes a lot of the people who are running. Ultimately it’s pretty simple. She didn’t feel the calling.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, a longtime Harris ally, said that he’d been consulting with her over the decision for the last several months and that “there’s no question she would have won” the governor’s race. But “I don’t think she’s thinking much about 2028 really,” Garcia said.
ay, leaving in place a crowded field of Democrats with no clear front-runner. She left open the possibility that she may run for the White House in 2028.
“In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor,” Harris said Wednesday in a statement. “I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”
Harris lost the 2024 presidential race to Donald Trump after stepping in at the eleventh hour as the Democratic nominee in place of then-President Joe Biden. While she easily won California over Trump in November, her margin of victory was smaller than Biden’s in 2020 because more Black and Latino voters backed Trump.
Harris said that after six months of reflection and consideration of the best ways to continue fighting to advance her values, she decided to take a step back from running for office. But she appeared to leave the door open for another White House bid in 2028.
“For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office. I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans,” Harris said.
Said longtime adviser Sean Clegg: “I don’t think running for president right now is her focus, but she’s not taking it off the table.”
The list of Democratic candidates for governor includes former Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Controller Betty Yee, former Rep. Katie Porter, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Republicans Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, and former Fox News host Steve Hilton are also running.
Harris’ entry promised to reshape the field: Kounalakis said she would bow out if Harris ran, and Porter had said she would likely exit the race, too. Other candidates were also thought to be eyeing a move to other offices instead of running against the former vice president.
“She listened to her instincts about whether she wanted this to be her next big act.” Clegg said. “She very much looks at things from the perspective of, ‘How can I have the biggest impact?’ And, she likes a lot of the people who are running. Ultimately it’s pretty simple. She didn’t feel the calling.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, a longtime Harris ally, said that he’d been consulting with her over the decision for the last several months and that “there’s no question she would have won” the governor’s race. But “I don’t think she’s thinking much about 2028 really,” Garcia said.
The 2026 race will be shaped by California’s relationship with the Trump administration, which under Newsom has been rocky. At Newsom’s urging, state lawmakers approved $50 million in funding to fight Trump’s policies in court. Attorney General Rob Bonta has already sued the Trump administration more than 30 times over its attempts to end birthright citizenship, freeze federal grant funding and other actions. And Trump has attacked the state over its water management — including by insulting state leaders in the midst of devastating wildfires — as well as its policies protecting transgender residents, high-speed rail and more.
Harris’ statement Wednesday could be seen as advice for the candidates in the race: “We must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis,” she said. “As we look ahead, we must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking — committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.”
Garcia said Harris remains “incredibly popular” with Democrats nationwide. He envisions her “being able to go into some of these (House) swing districts and some of these seats we have to flip, not just here in California, but across the country. She’ll be able to help raise money and should be able to help us organize on the ground,” he said.
Harris and her advisers have contemplated a listening tour with voters around the country that “isn’t transactional or about voting for her but about shining a light on the problems of the country,” Clegg said, but nothing is in place yet. He also said she has considered forming a political action committee to support Democrats in the 2026 elections.
After serving in elective office since 2003 and in public service since she graduated from law school, Clegg said Harris “wanted to get outside of the establishment and do some deep listening and see if we can have an impact that way.”
Harris has also been working on a book that is expected to publish in mid-September.