Harris is in a rough place right now. There’s not telling how she’ll ever recover.
And Kamala Harris is appalled after what these Democrats said about her.
Kamala Harris’s Gubernatorial Ambitions Face Donor Skepticism
Former Vice President Kamala Harris Kamala Harris, former vice president, is reportedly considering a run for California governor in 2026, but her path is clouded by hesitation from key Democratic donors still reeling from her costly and unsuccessful presidential campaign. A recent Politico report paints a vivid picture of a party grappling with disappointment, as influential funders voice doubts about Harris’s political future amid questions over her role in concealing President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline.
One prominent California donor, who contributed six figures to Democratic causes, didn’t mince words in the Politico interviews: “Kamala just reminds you we are in this complete sh*t storm. With Biden, we got bamboozled … I think she did the best she could in that situation, but obviously she knew about the cognitive decline too.”
The donor’s frustration was palpable, adding, “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 skepticism isn’t universal, but it’s growing. Mather Martin, a San Francisco-based fundraiser with a history of supporting Harris’s campaigns, noted a shift in sentiment: “There was more enthusiasm at first. I think it waned a bit.” Harris has been quietly reconnecting with her base through thank-you visits, catch-up calls, and listening sessions, according to Politico.
These efforts come as she weighs multiple paths forward, including a gubernatorial bid, a potential 2028 presidential run, or even a pivot to philanthropy. Yet, for many donors, her association with the Biden administration’s missteps looms large.
Per Politico, Harris’s low-key approach since leaving office includes private meetings, like those held in the Bay Area in June during a Democratic National Committee fundraiser. She’s also been consulting loyalists who have backed her since her days as San Francisco’s district attorney over two decades ago.
But the specter of her role in defending Biden’s mental fitness during his presidency continues to cast a shadow. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, now a gubernatorial candidate himself, took aim at Harris and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in a late May X post.
“For me it’s the consequences of their failure to say anything,” Villaraigosa said in an interview highlighted in the post. “That somehow the president was ready for another four years. And the consequences of that is what I’m focused on.”
WATCH:
https://x.com/AVillaraigosa/status/1927552212344938951
Another California fundraiser, speaking anonymously to Politico, echoed the sentiment: 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. She still would probably lead, but honestly, no one is incredibly pumped.”
Republicans, meanwhile, appear eager for Harris to enter the race. Politico reported last week that conservative figures like pundit Steve Hilton and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco are already framing Harris as a symbol of Democratic missteps, spotlighting her in Fox News appearances as they campaign against what they call failed governance.
According to Politico, Harris has until late summer to decide her next move, with aides reportedly exploring three options: a 2026 gubernatorial run, a 2028 presidential bid, or a role outside elected office that still allows her to shape civic life.
If she chooses the governor’s race, she’ll face tough questions not only about her White House tenure but also about California’s pressing challenges, from the aftermath of destructive wildfires to social unrest tied to Trump-era immigration policies.
“She is talking to people around the state about whether she is going to run,” said Joe Cotchett, a San Francisco trial lawyer and longtime Democratic donor, per Politico. “If she does, she’s going to have very difficult problems.”
For now, Harris’s political future hangs in the balance, with donor enthusiasm waning and the weight of past decisions pressing down.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
