Kamala Harris, once Vice President, recently made an appearance at the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Commander in Chief farewell ceremony, held in Arlington, Virginia on January 16, 2025. However, her attempts to remain politically relevant cannot mask the fact that her political future seems to be in decline. Having lost the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, she may be in for more political defeats, according to recent news.
Harris finds herself facing unfavorable views from the public, as indicated by a poll conducted by a Democratic firm. The poll suggests that if Harris chooses to run for the California governorship, she’ll face significant resistance. The poll’s data paints a grim picture for her prospects, with only 35% of the surveyed primary voters believing it’s a good idea for her to run for governor.
The political playing field in California is crowded, to say the least. A popular name that has recently joined the array of 2026 contenders for the California governorship is former Democratic U.S. House member Katie Porter. Porter’s reputation for challenging CEOs in congressional hearings has made her somewhat of a social media celebrity.
Porter announced her gubernatorial bid in a video, claiming that she would counteract Trump’s administration aggressively, apparently resonating with the partisan sentiment in the deeply Democratic state. The issues on which she intends to fight range from water management to immigrant rights, reflecting the points of contention between California and the White House.
The competition to replace the term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is intense, with a slew of candidates either announced or considering running. But these dynamics could change drastically if Harris steps into the ring, given her past political standing as a U.S senator and state attorney general from California.
Despite her failed bid for the presidential seat, Harris remains evasive about her plans for the governorship. Her decision to step back from the political spotlight after her departure from Washington in January does little to clarify her future intentions. It seems, like a seasoned poker player, she’s keeping her cards close to her vest.
Interestingly enough, Porter, who’s newly entered the race, is known to be friendly towards Harris. The ex-Vice President’s potential candidacy doesn’t seem to worry Porter, as she has hinted at possible withdrawal in the event of Harris joining the ranks. It’s obvious that personal well-being supersedes party allegiance and political commitment, a prevalent reality within the political system.
It’s interesting to note that Porter was handpicked by Harris, who was California’s attorney general at the time, to occupy the role of the state’s independent bank monitor in a sprawling multibillion-dollar nationwide mortgage settlement in 2012. But, whether these past associations will have any bearing on the future electoral race remains to be seen.
Political scientist Jack Pitney from Claremont McKenna College seems to think that faced with a campaign from Harris, many politicians would step aside. According to him, Harris is likely to secure the Democratic nomination and, given the state’s political alignment, potentially clinch the governorship as well. But one must remember that popularity within a party doesn’t always translate to popularity among voters.
Pitney’s perception, however, neglects to consider the variables at play here. Yes, Harris has a significant political resume, but the reality on the ground focuses on the public’s confidence in her leadership. The poll numbers do not support the notion of a ‘guaranteed’ victory for Harris.
Looking at the current political landscape, and considering her performance in Washington along with the public sentiment, it does seem like Harris’ political career is more likely headed downwards rather than upwards. A successful bid for the governorship seems like a desperate attempt to cling onto relevance, more than a genuine desire to serve the people.
When it comes to the question of Harris becoming governor, the minority holding the belief of her suitability for such an office are likely overlooking the seemingly endless controversies and scandals that have marked her political career. Voters should consider whether they would want a leadership mired in such negativity.
Perhaps those who believe Harris would make an outstanding governor should evaluate her previous performance as Vice President and how her tenure at the White House ended – with a crushing defeat in the 2024 election. And if that’s an indication of her leadership, then one must question the wisdom of placing her in yet another position of power.
Indeed, one does wonder if the 35% support found in the poll reflects a support for Harris per se, or if it’s simply a reflection of the Democratic party’s robust presence in the state. If it’s the latter, this not only paints a bleak picture for Harris’s gubernatorial ambitions, but also hints at a troubling level of partisanship that undermines the democratic process.
In conclusion, the prospects seem rather grim for Harris. The 2026 governorship appears to be a challenging uphill battle, possibly insurmountable due to her negatively viewed tenure as Vice President and the current unfavorable poll numbers. It might be better for her to re-evaluate her political ambitions altogether, or risk another widespread electoral disappointment.
Therefore, the thought of Kamala Harris as California’s governor seems, at best, unlikely, and at worst, a sheer demonstration of a politician’s desperate endeavor to stay relevant. It would indeed be wise on the part of voters to look critically at Harris’s former performance before making their decision, considering that the promise of better governance is preferable to a mere game of political musical chairs.