Kamala Harris Touts 2026 Run for Governor

Vice president Kamala Harris has teased a possible 2026 run for governor.

After losing decisively to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, she has not yet given up on her political career.

In California, Gavin Newsom will be term-limited, meaning that he can't run for governor for a third time in 2026. This leaves a large power vacuum in the race between a slate of Democratic politicians, most notably Kamala Harris.

If Harris wins the 2026 primary for governor, she would be practically guaranteed a top position in her state's government. From there, she could recover her image and possibly open doors for future presidential runs in 2032 and beyond. However, if she were elected governor in 2026, she would most likely not run in 2028, leaving the Democratic ticket open for contenders against possibly JD Vance, who is expected to run as the Republican candidate.

As governor, she could have more power to enact progressive legislation, such as a higher minimum wage or climate reform.