The former vice president is out of politics for now. But she’s still a top target of Republicans.
And Kamala Harris was just rocked with a surprising threat from this Trump ally.
Former U.S. Ambassador Ric Grenell is considering a run for California governor next year, setting the stage for a potentially high-profile political showdown with former Vice President Kamala Harris if she decides to enter the race.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, the 58-year-old envoy for special missions under President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Harris could be vulnerable should she attempt a return to politics following her resounding defeat to Trump in the November 5 election.
“If Kamala Harris runs for governor, I believe that she has such baggage and hundreds of millions of dollars in educating the voters of how terrible she is, that it’s a new day in California, and that the Republican actually has a shot,” Grenell stated.
When pressed about his own potential candidacy, he added, “I wouldn’t say no.”
While Grenell has not taken any formal steps toward launching a campaign, his political presence is well established. Known for his pointed criticism of Democrats on social media, he remains a staunch Trump ally and has maintained an active role in Republican political circles.
The race for California governor is expected to be a pivotal one, as current Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited.
Harris has been floated as a possible contender for the position, having previously secured statewide victories as attorney general in 2010 and 2014 and as a U.S. senator in 2016.
She also carried California in the 2024 presidential election, winning 58.5% of the vote against Trump’s 38.3%.
Despite her past successes, Harris has faced tough electoral battles in California. Her narrowest statewide victory came in 2010, when she won the attorney general race by just 0.8 percentage points over Republican Steve Cooley.
The political climate in California has been further shaken by the fallout from last month’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, which caused an estimated $250 billion in damages.
Many frustrated residents and Republican leaders have placed blame on Democratic policies, citing mismanagement and water shortages as contributing factors.
Grenell has taken on a unique role in the recovery efforts, serving as Trump’s liaison for Los Angeles reconstruction.
His portfolio extends beyond domestic matters, as he has also acted as a foreign emissary, recently negotiating the release of six Americans from Venezuela and securing an agreement with Nicolas Maduro’s regime to accept deportees.
His extensive experience in international affairs dates back to Trump’s first term, during which he served as U.S. ambassador to Germany. In that role, he played a key part in halting the construction of the Nord Stream 2 Russian natural gas pipeline, a project that the Biden administration later permitted to resume.
Grenell also brokered a diplomatic agreement between Serbia and Kosovo and, in 2020, briefly held the position of acting director of national intelligence.
As speculation mounts over the upcoming gubernatorial race, Grenell’s potential candidacy could inject fresh energy into California’s political landscape.
With Democratic leadership under scrutiny and public dissatisfaction growing, the possibility of a Republican making inroads in the deep-blue state is a scenario that could very well happen.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
