Former American vice-president Kamala Harris will not show up as California governor next year, leaving the possibility that she can set up a third round for the White House in 2028.
“In the past six months, I spent time thinking about this moment in the history of our nation and the best way for me to continue fighting for the American people and to advance the values and ideals that are dear to me,” said Harris in a statement published Wednesday by his office.
“I seriously thought about asking the inhabitants of California the privilege of serving as governor. I love this state, its inhabitants and its promise. It is my house,” she said. “But after a deep reflection, I decided that I will not run the governor in this election.”
Harris’ decision is extending a assumption game on his political future that started after losing last year’s presidential election against Donald Trump. Harris spent months in private to consider if he had to run for the governor, organize another race for the White House or move away completely from electoral policy after his defeat by Trump.
She did not exclude another race for the presidency, after unsuccessful offers in 2020 and 2024. We do not know when she will make this decision.
The former American vice-president and candidate for the Democratic presidential election Kamala Harris called on the Americans to resist President Donald Trump and his violation of the “ American ideals ” in his first major speech since the loss of the elections.
‘Moment of crisis’
In his statement, Harris never mentions Trump directly, but said that “our policy, our government and our institutions have too often failed the American people, leading to this moment of crisis”.
“For the moment, my leadership – and the public service – will not be based on elected officials. I can’t wait to come back and listen to the American people, to help Democrats across the country who will fight without fear, and to share more details in the coming months on my own plans,” said Harris.
“In the United States of America, power must remain with the people. And we must use our power to fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness and dignity of all. I will remain in this fight,” said the press release.
Harris would have entered the crowded competition to replace the governor limited to Gavin Newsom terms as a favor given his generalized recognition of name, the feat of fundraising and the history of the winning elections on a state scale. Before being an American senator and vice-president, she was elected attorney general and district prosecutor in San Francisco.
But after years in Washington on the national and international scene, he was never clear if Harris was interested in returning to the less glamorous world of state policy in Sacramento.
Apart from California, Harris’ political career was marked by first historicals but also disappointments.
Harris asked for the appointment of the Democratic presidential election of 2020, but abandoned the race before the head of the Iowa Caucus – the first defeat of his political career.
After Joe Biden chose her as a running mate, she marked history as the first woman, black person or person of South Asian origin to be vice-president. In 2024, Harris became the Democratic presidential candidate after Biden left the race for months before election day and approved it. She lost this race against Trump, who won each swing state.
Democratic party Fractious
Harris faces a certain uncertainty if she chooses to do another race in the White House.
She should convince national democrats that she is the face of the party’s future, despite the loss of Trump last fall. She also carries the luggage to be linked to Biden, which the Democrats have more and more criticized for having sought a second term rather than withdrawing. Biden’s inheritance was tarnished when he was leaving his duties, and since then, new questions have turned on his physical and mental capacities at the end of his mandate.
The 2028 presidential competition is expected to attract a large field, which could potentially include Newsom. Any candidate will have to unify a frailful democratic party with low approval notes that fight to slow down Trump’s agenda in Washington.
In his most extensive public remarks since who left his duties in January, Harris declared in a San Francisco speech that Trump’s management represented an “wholesale” of American ideals.
