Failed Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has been largely quiet. She’s been eyeing a comeback.
But Kamala Harris’s career has taken a bullet straight to the head when this report leaked.
Kamala Harris’ Gubernatorial Ambitions Hit Snag as Donors Balk at Democratic Leadership Failures
Kamala Harris, once a rising star in Democratic politics, is facing a steep climb as she contemplates a run for California governor in 2026. A recent Politico report reveals a growing reluctance among Democratic donors to back her potential candidacy, with many citing the party’s disastrous 2024 presidential election as a lingering wound. The former vice president’s outreach to longtime supporters has been met with tepid responses, exposing deep frustrations with the Democratic leadership’s inability to navigate recent political storms.
According to Politico, Harris has been quietly gauging support for a gubernatorial bid to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. However, donors are hesitant, haunted by President Donald Trump’s decisive victory over Harris in the 2024 presidential race, where he swept all seven battleground states and secured 49.8% of the popular vote to Harris’ 48.3%. The defeat has left a bitter taste, with many blaming the Democratic establishment for mishandling the campaign and failing to address critical voter concerns.
Mather Martin, a San Francisco-based fundraiser who has supported Harris in the past, told Politico that enthusiasm for her candidacy has “waned.” “There was more enthusiasm at first,” Martin said. “I think it waned a bit.” His comments point to a real disillusionment among donors who see Harris as emblematic of the party’s recent missteps, including its failure to present a compelling alternative to Trump’s populist surge.
The Democratic Party’s leadership has come under fire for its handling of the 2024 election, particularly for what many see as a refusal to confront President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline. One anonymous California Democrat, who donated a six-figure sum to Harris’ presidential campaign, expressed raw anger to Politico: “Kamala just reminds you we are in this complete shit 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 added, “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.”
Harris is reportedly weighing her options, torn between a gubernatorial run in 2026 and another presidential bid in 2028. Sources told The Hill that she is leaning toward the California race, but the lack of donor enthusiasm could complicate her plans. The Democratic Party’s inability to rally behind a unifying figure has left Harris in a precarious position, with her political comeback far from guaranteed.
“No one is incredibly pumped” about a Harris candidacy, an anonymous Southern California fundraiser told Politico. “[Donors] realize it’s just going to bring up the whole pathetic last presidential [election], which no one wants to hear about again,” the source said. “And then it’s the whole ‘Did you know Joe Biden?’ thing. She still would probably lead, but honestly, no one is incredibly pumped.” The comments highlight how Harris remains tethered to the party’s failures, unable to escape the shadow of a campaign that many Democrats now view as a debacle.
The former vice president has set a self-imposed deadline to decide on her gubernatorial run by the end of summer, according to Politico. Yet, the lack of excitement among donors suggests she faces an uphill battle. Scott Drexel, a Bay Area-based donor adviser, told Politico, “It’s very fair to say there’s not an overwhelming clamor” for Harris to announce her candidacy. He added that she is “going to have to work for the nomination,” a stark contrast to the party’s earlier willingness to anoint her as a frontrunner.
The Democratic field for California’s governorship is already crowded, with declared candidates including former Biden-era Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Rep. Katie Porter, and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis. Notably, Porter and Kounalakis have indicated they would step aside if Harris enters the race, suggesting she still holds some sway within the party. However, the lack of donor support could undermine her ability to dominate the field as she once might have.
The party’s struggles extend beyond Harris. The recent failure of disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to mount a political comeback in the New York City mayoral primary—losing to socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani—serves as a cautionary tale. Democratic leadership’s inability to groom viable candidates or adapt to shifting political tides has left the party scrambling to regain its footing after 2024’s crushing losses.
“She is talking to people around the state about whether she is going to run,” longtime Democratic donor Joe Cotchett told Politico. “If she does, she’s going to have very difficult problems.” The Democratic leadership’s failure to inspire confidence has left even loyal supporters questioning whether Harris can lead California effectively.
The reluctance to embrace Harris just goes to show a deep malaise within the Democratic Party, which has struggled to articulate a coherent vision in the face of Republican gains. Donors who once saw Harris as a trailblazer now view her as a reminder of the party’s miscalculations, particularly its decision to prop up Biden despite concerns about his fitness for office. This misstep, many argue, paved the way for Trump’s return to power and the Democrats’ current state of disarray.
As Harris navigates her next steps, she must contend with a party that appears fractured and directionless. The lack of enthusiasm for her gubernatorial bid is not just a personal setback but a symptom of the Democratic leadership’s critical failures. Donors and voters alike are questioning whether the party can produce leaders capable of addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing political landscape.
The 2024 election exposed the Democratic Party’s vulnerabilities, from its reliance on outdated strategies to its inability to connect with key voter demographics. Harris, as a central figure in that campaign, bears the weight of those shortcomings. Her potential run for governor will test whether she can overcome the party’s tarnished reputation and convince skeptical supporters that she can lead California forward.
