Harris was utterly embarrassed in the presidential election. But she’s not finished yet.
And now Kamala Harris made an election announcement that is raising eyebrows.
Harris’ Potential Gubernatorial Run Sparks Republican Enthusiasm
Kamala Harris is reportedly considering a bid for California governor in 2026, a move that has unexpectedly energized Republicans in a state that hasn’t elected a GOP governor since 2007.
According to CBS News, “Sources familiar with Harris’ thinking say she’s weighing a gubernatorial bid in her home state, a third run for the presidency or not seeking elected office.”
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told the Daily Mail, “I’d jump for joy. She’s the perfect example of everything Californians are sick of – soft on crime, blind to our problems, and more focused on DC than Main Street.”
Republicans see Harris, who lost the 2024 presidential race, as a vulnerable candidate whose ties to the faltering Democratic establishment could open the door for a GOP upset.
GOP Sees Opportunity in Harris’ Weaknesses
Republicans view Harris’ potential candidacy as a chance to capitalize on her lackluster political momentum and California’s growing frustration with one-party rule.
GOP consultant Kevin Madden noted, “She’s got the résumé – but so do a lot of people who’ve lost. What she doesn’t have is momentum.”
Conservative pundit Steve Hilton added, “I sense that this is the best shot for someone to be elected statewide in California who’s not a Democrat for at least 20 years, and I think the evident reason for that is the failure of one-party rule. The candidate who’s going to win in 2026, regardless of party label, is the change candidate. Kamala Harris is the one who least represents change.”
With Harris underperforming Joe Biden’s 2020 results in California, as POLITICO reported, “California remains a staunchly Democratic state in which 59 percent of voters chose Harris over Trump in 2024,” but her weaker showing suggests cracks in her appeal that Republicans aim to exploit.
A Risky Move for Harris
Despite her past statewide victories, Harris’ potential gubernatorial run carries significant risks, with even a win potentially costing her politically.
GOP consultant Kevin Spillane, who managed Steve Cooley’s 2010 campaign against Harris, warned, “She has a chance to be embarrassed even if she wins. It could be a pyrrhic victory.”
Republican political consultant Dave Gilliard told POLITICO, “I think it could attract some donors from around the country who might be interested in taking another pound of flesh. Money is the biggest obstacle other than the registration because the donor world doesn’t think a Republican can be elected governor anymore.”
Bianco further argued, “She won two statewide elections, and she won in California when she was running for president. But those votes didn’t go to Kamala Harris. Those votes went against Donald Trump.”
As Harris weighs her options, her association with Democratic policies seen as out of touch could make her a prime target for a reinvigorated GOP eager to challenge California’s entrenched political machine.
