Former Vice President Kamala Harris is discovering just how thin her support has grown among California’s deep-pocketed Democrat donors. As Harris quietly gauges interest for a potential run for governor, major contributors who once wrote six-figure checks to her presidential campaign say they’ve had enough.
One longtime Democratic megadonor—who maxed out for Harris in 2024—summed up the mood: “Kamala just reminds you we’re in this complete s*** storm. The 2024 debacle was traumatizing, Biden’s cognitive decline was covered up, and we’re paying the price.” He added that despite pouring money into stopping Donald Trump, “we’re living a nightmare because of Democrats. I’m furious.”
Key points emerging from donor circles:
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Baggage from 2024: Contributors fear Harris’s presence on the ballot reopens wounds from her disastrous White House run and the party’s concealment of Biden’s decline.
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Villaraigosa’s Accusation: Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa claims Harris and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra helped hide Biden’s condition, calling it a cover-up that “directly led to a second Trump term.”
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No ‘Inevitability’ Factor: “Every day that passes, there’s less of a sense of inevitability,” says Bay Area donor adviser Scott Drexel. “She’s going to have to work for the nomination.”
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Centrist Wildcard: Billionaire developer Rick Caruso could jump in, splitting moderates and leaving Harris vulnerable.
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Alternative Paths: Harris is weighing a 2028 presidential bid or launching a philanthropic venture if the governor’s race looks too treacherous.
Behind closed doors, Harris has hosted small “social” gatherings in Bay Area mansions, but attendees say the subtext is unmistakable: she’s testing whether the donor class is willing to bankroll another Harris campaign. So far, enthusiasm is lukewarm at best.
“It’s just going to bring up the whole pathetic last presidential campaign,” one Southern California fundraiser said. “She’d probably lead, but honestly, no one is incredibly pumped.”