Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that she will not enter the race for California governor, a move that positions her for a potential presidential bid in 2028.
“I love this state—its people and its promise,” said Harris, 60, in a statement. “California is my home. But after careful consideration, I’ve decided not to run for governor in this election.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris has confirmed she will not run for governor of California.
Harris, who previously served as a U.S. senator and California attorney general, stated, “For now, my leadership and commitment to public service will continue outside of elected office. I’m eager to reconnect with the American people, support Democratic candidates nationwide who are ready to lead with courage, and share more about my future plans in the coming months.”
Before making her announcement, Kamala Harris was widely believed to be weighing three possible paths for her political future: a run for California governor in 2026, another bid for the presidency in 2028, or stepping away from electoral politics altogether.
She spent several months in private deliberations, consulting with trusted confidants, activists, donors, and longtime political allies.
The 2026 California governor’s race is expected to be highly competitive, as incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom—himself a potential 2028 presidential candidate—is term-limited. Polls had shown Harris holding a double-digit lead over other potential Democratic contenders in the race to lead the nation’s most populous state.
Her decision not to run has significantly reshaped the dynamics of the Democratic field for governor.
Among the prominent Democrats still in the mix are former Representative Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Harris’ drawn-out decision process drew comparisons to Richard Nixon, who lost the 1960 presidential race and then suffered a high-profile defeat in California’s 1962 gubernatorial election.
Harris, who was elevated to the Democratic presidential nominee just 107 days before last year’s Election Day, ultimately lost every battleground state to President Trump in November.
After her defeat, Harris vowed she would not go “quietly into the night.” Yet in the months that followed, she has largely stayed out of the public eye.
She is reportedly planning to write a book reflecting on her turbulent campaign and acknowledging some of the Democratic Party’s missteps. On Wednesday, she hinted at those failures and voiced frustration with the limits of traditional politics.
“Our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, leading us to this moment of crisis,” she said. “Looking forward, we must be open to new strategies and fresh thinking — holding fast to our core values, but no longer constrained by the old playbook.”
“In the United States of America, power must rest with the people. And We, the People, must use that power to advance freedom, opportunity, fairness, and dignity for all. I intend to stay in that fight.”
