Some California House Democrats are less than enthused by former vice president Kamala Harris’s widely speculated potential bid for governor, with one claiming her “baggage” would only excite the Golden State’s Republicans during the 2026 midterms.
Harris, who is reportedly deciding between a race for California’s governor’s mansion in 2026 and another presidential bid in 2028, would likely be unable to shake prior decisions Democrats are reluctant to face, such as Joe Biden’s decision to run for reelection in 2024 and her rise to become the party’s presidential nominee without a primary after Biden’s withdrawal. Even in the deep blue state, Harris’s critics worry that her fellow party members, not being too keen on her possible attempted comeback, could weaken Democrats’ chances of winning in California’s several swing congressional seats, CNN reported.
“There’s no groundswell for her candidacy. In fact, I think it would only fire up Republicans and hurt our ability to win the four to five seats that we need to win to win the House and hold on to three seats that we just flipped in 2024,” one California House Democrat, who requested anonymity to speak freely, told the outlet. “She comes in with baggage.”
Some Democrats in competitive districts, such as first-term California Reps. Dave Min and George Whitesides were hesitant to comment on the gubernatorial race. When asked how his reelection prospects would change if Harris were to run for the governor’s mansion, Min told the outlet he had no comment at all.
“I welcome her to the race. I’m just really focused on my own race, but if that’s what she feels calls to do, that’s her prerogative,” Whitesides told the paper.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the 2026 races in both Min and Whitesides’ Southern California seats as “Lean Democrat.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who, according to Hunter Biden, did not want Harris to be the presidential nominee following his father’s departure from the 2024 race, told CNN, “I want her to do whatever she wants to do.” Pelosi continues to represent most of San Francisco in Congress.
The former vice president has reportedly reached out to former California governors for their opinion on whether she could do the job, but some did not agree to speak with her, according to CNN.
California Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who has represented his Los Angeles district for nine years, implied that running for governor was Harris’s backup plan after losing the 2024 election to President Donald Trump.
“Once you’re the vice president of the United States, there’s only one place to go. It’s president,” Gomez told CNN. “For me, if I was vice president and all of a sudden I lose, it would be a fallback to me. I hate to put it so bluntly.”
California Rep. Mike Levin, who represents areas of Orange County and San Diego County, was more encouraging towards Harris, claiming her knowledge of the state and electorate would make her a “formidable candidate.” Cook rates the 2026 race in Levin’s seat as “Likely Democrat.”
California Rep. Ro Khanna — who has represented parts of California’s Silicon Valley since 2016 — supports a gubernatorial bid from Harris.
“As someone who served as district attorney, attorney general, and senator from California, she would have the experience, leadership, and understanding of the state legislature to tackle two of the biggest problems in the state: the lack of affordable housing and a sense of a lack of public safety,” Khanna told CNN.
As Harris continues to bide her time, the California governor’s race is shaping up.
Already declared Democratic candidates in the race include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former California Attorney General and Biden-era Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former State Controller Betty Yee, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, entrepreneur Stephen J. Cloobeck, former State Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
Republicans in the running include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Fox News host Steve Hilton, former judge Jimmy Parker, former businessman Leo Zacky, and business consultant Sharifah Hardie, among others.
Harris’ office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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