The outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris takes time away from the political spotlight following her presidential campaign defeat.
According to the New York Post, Harris has been quietly instructing her allies to maintain options for a potential political comeback, with speculations pointing toward a possible 2026 California gubernatorial run or a 2028 presidential bid.
The 60-year-old Democrat has expressed her determination to "stay in the fight" to close confidants, planning to discuss her political future with family during the holiday season.
Her considerations come after serving as the Democratic Party's standard-bearer following President Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the race, giving her just 107 days to lead the campaign effort.
Harris faces unique challenges as she contemplates her next political move. During her vice presidency, she recorded one of the lowest favorability ratings for any vice president in recent history, with an NBC News poll from June 2023 showing 49% of registered voters holding negative views and only 32% expressing positive opinions.
Former Harris aide Brian Brokaw shared his perspective on her potential political paths:
Could she run for governor? Yes. Do I think she wants to run for governor? Probably not. Could she win? Definitely. Would she like the job? I don't know. Could she run for president again? Yes. Would she have a whole bunch of skepticism from the outset, because she has run in a full-length Democratic primary where [in 2019] she didn't even make it long enough to be in the Iowa caucus, and then she was the nominee this year? People can learn a lot from their previous adversity, too.
Recent polling data presents a mixed picture of Harris's future prospects. An Echelon Insights poll showed her leading a hypothetical 2028 Democratic primary with 41% support, significantly ahead of potential competitors like California Governor Gavin Newsom at 8% and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at 7%.
Harris has maintained a low profile since conceding defeat to Trump at Howard University. She opted to vacation in Hawaii with second gentleman Doug Emhoff instead of attending the White House "losers party" where donors and insiders gathered.
A source close to Harris said, "There will be a desire to hear her voice, and there won't be a vacuum for long."
The vice president faces several immediate decisions, including whether to return to California or establish herself elsewhere after leaving the Naval Observatory. She must also fulfill her constitutional duty to preside over the certification of her electoral defeat, after which her Secret Service protection will expire in six months following Trump's inauguration.
The timeline for Harris's next political move remains uncertain, with sources indicating she's taking a measured approach to decision-making. Her position as the first Democrat to lose the popular vote in a presidential election in two decades adds complexity to her future political calculations.
While betting markets consider her a viable contender for the 2028 presidential race, she currently trails behind other potential Democratic candidates, such as former first lady Michelle Obama and Governor Gavin Newsom. The term-limited status of Newsom, who is 57, potentially creates an opening for Harris in the California gubernatorial race.
These circumstances require careful consideration and strategic planning from Harris and her team as they evaluate various political opportunities and timing for her potential return to public office.
