As Kamala Harris considers a possible return to California politics or another run for the presidency, Democrats on both coasts are expressing growing frustration, Politico reported.
Questions are mounting about whether her ambitions align with the current political climate and the party’s direction. Harris has reportedly set a late-summer deadline to decide whether she will enter the California governor’s race. However, Democrats in key states are already voicing skepticism—and in some cases, fatigue.
During concurrent Democratic gatherings this past weekend in California and South Carolina, Harris’s name came up frequently, but often with a tone of caution rather than excitement. The former vice president, who lost her 2024 presidential campaign to Donald Trump, has yet to make her next move clear. Her indecision is leaving donors, candidates, and party activists in a holding pattern, the outlet added.
“I think she should run for governor and be the best governor California has ever had,” said Amanda Loveday, a Democrat strategist and former executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party. Some viewed a run for governor of California not as a new opportunity but rather as a fallback option.
“We haven’t really heard from her on California issues since Trump’s inauguration,” said Madison Zimmerman, a state party delegate from rural Shasta County. “I feel like California isn’t a consolation prize.”
Kamala Harris, whose national profile still eclipses that of the declared candidates for California governor, skipped the California Democratic Party convention in Anaheim. Instead, she sent a short video message that received a polite, subdued response. In contrast, potential challengers were on the ground, mingling with the approximately 4,000 delegates and activists, shaking hands and making their presence felt.
“My concern about Harris is that she would be using the position, if she won, as a placeholder for a second run at the presidency,” said Carol Weiss, a delegate from Sunnyvale. “And that would make me feel like I’m wasting my vote.”
The uncertainty surrounding Harris’s decision is putting the race on hold. Labor unions and major donors are staying on the sidelines, while several potential candidates are holding back, waiting to see whether she enters the race, Politico noted.
“There’s some frustration from both the candidates and activists,” said Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Labor Federation. “The longer that this waits, you’ll see more candidates actually stay in the race.”
