Summary:
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Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced she will not run for governor of California following her 2024 loss to Trump.
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Harris stated her decision does not mean the end of her public service, focusing on helping elect Democrats nationwide.
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Speculations suggest Harris is preserving her political bandwidth for a potential 2028 presidential run after deliberating with advisers.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that she will not run for governor of California, ending months of speculation about her political future following her 2024 loss to Donald Trump.
“In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor,” Harris said in a prepared statement. “I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”
Harris took to X to share her official statement on the race and her future plans.
My statement on the California governor’s race and the fight ahead. pic.twitter.com/HYzK1BIlhD
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 30, 2025
She emphasized that her decision does not mark the end of her public service, but a shift in focus. “For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office,” she said. “I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.”
Sources close to Harris indicated that the move preserves her political bandwidth for a possible 2028 presidential run. While running for governor wouldn’t have prevented a White House bid, the logistics of a statewide campaign weighed heavily in her decision.
“This does keep the door open for 2028,” one source said. “It was a really tough decision; she really grappled with it. She was very conflicted. She wants to have the biggest impact that she could possibly have.”
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Harris reportedly convened a small circle of advisers in Los Angeles last month to deliberate on her next steps. Options on the table included a gubernatorial run, political activism, or stepping back from public life altogether.
In the near term, Harris is weighing nonprofit work and launching a political action committee, a source close to her said. She is also expected to hit the trail in support of Democratic candidates in upcoming midterm races.
One adviser emphasized that Harris still intends to be part of the national conversation. “Stay tuned, because she’s going to have other announcements, and they’re not about 2028,” the person said. “She still wants to be part of the national conversation and talk about Donald Trump, and being in debates and forums in California is not going to allow her to do that.”
With Harris officially out, California’s gubernatorial race remains a high-stakes battle in a deep-blue state. Term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, a longtime political ally of Harris, will not seek re-election. Candidates already in the running include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, ex-Senate President Toni Atkins, and former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Harris previously served as California’s attorney general and U.S. senator before becoming vice president in 2021. She took over the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024 after Joe Biden’s withdrawal, ultimately losing to Trump.
