Harris Advises Her Team and Supporters to Maintain Flexibility in Her Political Strategies
She has the option to run for president once more, or she could seek the governorship of California.
TroibNews 
Kamala Harris has been keeping a low profile since her defeat in the presidential race, spending time with family and senior aides in Hawaii before returning to Washington, D.C.
Privately, the vice president has been telling advisers and allies to keep her options open—considering a potential 2028 presidential run or a bid for governor of California in the next two years. As she has reiterated in phone calls, “I am staying in the fight.”
Harris is expected to discuss these and other possible paths with her family during the winter holiday season, according to five individuals within her inner circle who spoke anonymously to describe internal dynamics. Her reflections come after an intense four months when she transitioned from being President Joe Biden’s running mate to leading the ticket, reinvigorating Democrats before ultimately facing defeat on election night.
“She doesn't have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months,” noted a former Harris campaign aide. “The natural thing to do would be to set up some type of entity that would give her the opportunity to travel and give speeches and preserve her political relationships.”
In the short term, Harris and her advisers are strategizing on how and when to voice her opposition to Donald Trump and reinforce her presence in the Democratic Party. As she concludes her vice presidency, she will preside over certifying the November election she lost to Trump, and will attend his inauguration on January 20.
“There will be a desire to hear her voice, and there won’t be a vacuum for long,” a source close to Harris said.
Meanwhile, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, face a lengthy checklist before they permanently leave the Naval Observatory. They must determine whether to move back to their home in Los Angeles or establish a new residence. Regardless of where they settle, some around Harris have raised concerns regarding her safety, as her Secret Service protection will expire six months after she leaves office.
After her rapid rise in Washington and California, questions arise about establishing a federal committee to raise campaign funds. This will be the first time in two decades that the former senator and career prosecutor will not hold an office, meaning she will need to build a personal operation while managing her significant online presence without the framework of daily governance.
“You just got to let them marinate in their own success, their own failures, or their own mistakes or their achievements. This is personal,” said Donna Brazile, a close ally of Harris and campaign manager for Al Gore, the last vice president who ran for president, lost, and never attempted it again, instead dedicating his life to climate change advocacy.
Brazile recounted how Gore was afforded months to contemplate his next steps before people expected clarity, noting that Harris has accumulated “a lot of political capital” despite her defeat, which should not be wasted on hasty decisions.
Unlike other Democrats who have regrouped after presidential losses, no one in recent history has inherited a nomination roughly 100 days before an election. Most past contenders faced setbacks following a meticulously planned ascent to the top, while Harris, at 60, is relatively young.
“There is no one — no one — who actually can relate to what she’s been through these last four months. No one,” stated Paul Maslin, a Democratic pollster. “And I wouldn't begrudge her at all to take some time and figure this out.”
Conversely, some confidants of Harris argue that the current news cycle and the pace at which the Democratic Party may start making decisions could push her, known for her deliberation, to come to resolutions sooner than expected.
Interviews with Harris' aides and Democratic figures reveal broad recognition of her as an “X factor” in the upcoming Democratic primary. While some party members dismiss a 2028 run—and few prospective opponents would yield to her—Harris garnered over 74 million votes, cultivating goodwill with a large segment of the electorate.
Encouragingly for Harris, her position in the party has strengthened the longer her brief campaign lasted, a rarity in politics. Her supporters suggest that the negativity that shadowed figures like John Kerry or Hillary Clinton after their losses is unlikely to affect Harris' future similarly.
Harris' campaign as a moderate candidate may serve as an advantage for her future decisions, coinciding with the party's anticipated shift toward the center.
“She proved a lot of skeptics wrong as a political athlete. And her standing with the public is as good as any Democrat with the name I.D. that she has,” a Harris ally explained.
A recent poll focused on the 2028 landscape found Harris leading with 41 percent, significantly ahead of competitors such as Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, and others, all of whom were in single digits.
However, Harris’ advantages are not exclusive. Similar polling conducted shortly after the 2016 election showed Clinton holding a decisive lead for 2020, with many Democrats hoping she would run.
“I can’t conceivably imagine the party turning to her a second time,” remarked one Democratic strategist granted anonymity for candidness.
Should she choose not to pursue a 2028 run, clues about her political future could emerge regarding a potential bid for governor to succeed Newsom in California, a prospect first reported by PMG in May. Although her office firmly denied this idea, the mere suggestion of her candidacy has stymied the field and kept some fundraisers inactive.
While opinions differ among those close to Harris about the office she should pursue, there is growing agreement that she likely cannot pursue both the governorship and a presidential campaign in quick succession.
The timing will be a challenge, as the 2028 primary will commence immediately following the midterm elections. Harris' confidants also highlight that the responsibilities of a governor and the electorate's expectations to address pressing state issues, such as high living costs, homelessness, and crime, complicate her potential candidacy.
“It’s a real job,” said one close associate, acknowledging initial doubts about her gubernatorial ambitions but now seeing it as plausible.
If she opts against running for governor, Harris will need to weigh the implications of abstaining in a state where other significant positions may not soon come open. Both Senate seats are currently filled by youthful incumbent Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.
Advisers to various candidates acknowledge that a gubernatorial campaign by Harris would likely clear the field of serious contenders, leaving her to face a mix of lesser-known candidates.
The state hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger nearly two decades ago. For Harris, who would be around 70 after two terms, the governorship could represent the pinnacle of her political career—or she might choose to forgo 2028 and still pursue a presidential run in 2032 if an opportunity arises.
“She is not someone who makes rash decisions. She takes, sometimes, a painfully long time to make decisions. So I would pretty much guarantee you she has no idea what her next move is,” stated Brian Brokaw, a former Harris aide who remains close to her circle.
“Could she run for governor? Yes. Do I think she wants to run for governor? Probably not. Could she win? Definitely. Would she like the job? I don't know. Could she run for president again? Yes,” Brokaw articulated. "Would she have a whole bunch of skepticism from the outset because she has run in a full-length Democratic primary where [in 2019] she didn't even make it long enough to be in the Iowa caucus, and then she was the nominee this year?”
He added: “On the other hand, people can learn a lot from their previous adversity, too.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Privately, the vice president has been telling advisers and allies to keep her options open—considering a potential 2028 presidential run or a bid for governor of California in the next two years. As she has reiterated in phone calls, “I am staying in the fight.”
Harris is expected to discuss these and other possible paths with her family during the winter holiday season, according to five individuals within her inner circle who spoke anonymously to describe internal dynamics. Her reflections come after an intense four months when she transitioned from being President Joe Biden’s running mate to leading the ticket, reinvigorating Democrats before ultimately facing defeat on election night.
“She doesn't have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months,” noted a former Harris campaign aide. “The natural thing to do would be to set up some type of entity that would give her the opportunity to travel and give speeches and preserve her political relationships.”
In the short term, Harris and her advisers are strategizing on how and when to voice her opposition to Donald Trump and reinforce her presence in the Democratic Party. As she concludes her vice presidency, she will preside over certifying the November election she lost to Trump, and will attend his inauguration on January 20.
“There will be a desire to hear her voice, and there won’t be a vacuum for long,” a source close to Harris said.
Meanwhile, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, face a lengthy checklist before they permanently leave the Naval Observatory. They must determine whether to move back to their home in Los Angeles or establish a new residence. Regardless of where they settle, some around Harris have raised concerns regarding her safety, as her Secret Service protection will expire six months after she leaves office.
After her rapid rise in Washington and California, questions arise about establishing a federal committee to raise campaign funds. This will be the first time in two decades that the former senator and career prosecutor will not hold an office, meaning she will need to build a personal operation while managing her significant online presence without the framework of daily governance.
“You just got to let them marinate in their own success, their own failures, or their own mistakes or their achievements. This is personal,” said Donna Brazile, a close ally of Harris and campaign manager for Al Gore, the last vice president who ran for president, lost, and never attempted it again, instead dedicating his life to climate change advocacy.
Brazile recounted how Gore was afforded months to contemplate his next steps before people expected clarity, noting that Harris has accumulated “a lot of political capital” despite her defeat, which should not be wasted on hasty decisions.
Unlike other Democrats who have regrouped after presidential losses, no one in recent history has inherited a nomination roughly 100 days before an election. Most past contenders faced setbacks following a meticulously planned ascent to the top, while Harris, at 60, is relatively young.
“There is no one — no one — who actually can relate to what she’s been through these last four months. No one,” stated Paul Maslin, a Democratic pollster. “And I wouldn't begrudge her at all to take some time and figure this out.”
Conversely, some confidants of Harris argue that the current news cycle and the pace at which the Democratic Party may start making decisions could push her, known for her deliberation, to come to resolutions sooner than expected.
Interviews with Harris' aides and Democratic figures reveal broad recognition of her as an “X factor” in the upcoming Democratic primary. While some party members dismiss a 2028 run—and few prospective opponents would yield to her—Harris garnered over 74 million votes, cultivating goodwill with a large segment of the electorate.
Encouragingly for Harris, her position in the party has strengthened the longer her brief campaign lasted, a rarity in politics. Her supporters suggest that the negativity that shadowed figures like John Kerry or Hillary Clinton after their losses is unlikely to affect Harris' future similarly.
Harris' campaign as a moderate candidate may serve as an advantage for her future decisions, coinciding with the party's anticipated shift toward the center.
“She proved a lot of skeptics wrong as a political athlete. And her standing with the public is as good as any Democrat with the name I.D. that she has,” a Harris ally explained.
A recent poll focused on the 2028 landscape found Harris leading with 41 percent, significantly ahead of competitors such as Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, and others, all of whom were in single digits.
However, Harris’ advantages are not exclusive. Similar polling conducted shortly after the 2016 election showed Clinton holding a decisive lead for 2020, with many Democrats hoping she would run.
“I can’t conceivably imagine the party turning to her a second time,” remarked one Democratic strategist granted anonymity for candidness.
Should she choose not to pursue a 2028 run, clues about her political future could emerge regarding a potential bid for governor to succeed Newsom in California, a prospect first reported by PMG in May. Although her office firmly denied this idea, the mere suggestion of her candidacy has stymied the field and kept some fundraisers inactive.
While opinions differ among those close to Harris about the office she should pursue, there is growing agreement that she likely cannot pursue both the governorship and a presidential campaign in quick succession.
The timing will be a challenge, as the 2028 primary will commence immediately following the midterm elections. Harris' confidants also highlight that the responsibilities of a governor and the electorate's expectations to address pressing state issues, such as high living costs, homelessness, and crime, complicate her potential candidacy.
“It’s a real job,” said one close associate, acknowledging initial doubts about her gubernatorial ambitions but now seeing it as plausible.
If she opts against running for governor, Harris will need to weigh the implications of abstaining in a state where other significant positions may not soon come open. Both Senate seats are currently filled by youthful incumbent Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.
Advisers to various candidates acknowledge that a gubernatorial campaign by Harris would likely clear the field of serious contenders, leaving her to face a mix of lesser-known candidates.
The state hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger nearly two decades ago. For Harris, who would be around 70 after two terms, the governorship could represent the pinnacle of her political career—or she might choose to forgo 2028 and still pursue a presidential run in 2032 if an opportunity arises.
“She is not someone who makes rash decisions. She takes, sometimes, a painfully long time to make decisions. So I would pretty much guarantee you she has no idea what her next move is,” stated Brian Brokaw, a former Harris aide who remains close to her circle.
“Could she run for governor? Yes. Do I think she wants to run for governor? Probably not. Could she win? Definitely. Would she like the job? I don't know. Could she run for president again? Yes,” Brokaw articulated. "Would she have a whole bunch of skepticism from the outset because she has run in a full-length Democratic primary where [in 2019] she didn't even make it long enough to be in the Iowa caucus, and then she was the nominee this year?”
He added: “On the other hand, people can learn a lot from their previous adversity, too.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
