Kamala Harris quells new speculation about CA governor run in 2026

Nicole Nixon and Lia Russell, The Sacramento Bee on Dec 10, 2025

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Kamala Harris’ team is shooting down speculation that the former vice president is again considering a run for California governor next year, after she announced in July that she would not.

Fueled by polls showing a weak Democratic field of gubernatorial candidates, political circles were abuzz this week that Harris, the former Democratic presidential nominee, was having second thoughts.

Two sources close to Harris who were unauthorized to speak publicly confirmed Wednesday that she plans to stay out of the race.

After her 2024 loss to President Donald Trump, Harris initially considered running in California’s open governor’s race next year but in July announced that her future public service “will not be in elected office.” On Wednesday, an aide pointed to that announcement when asked if Harris was reconsidering.

Harris recently told the New York Times that she planned to “ramp up” her political engagement in 2026, forming a political action committee and paying the Democratic National Committee $7 million for her email list.

She has spent the last two months on a book tour for “107 Days,” her memoir about her truncated presidential campaign, and on Wednesday announced added more than a dozen new stops in early 2026.

Rumors flew around political circles in recent days that Harris was reconsidering her decision to stay out of the California race, citing the lack of a gubernatorial frontrunner. With six months to go until the primary election, recent polls have shown nearly a third of California voters are undecided about whom to support in the governor’s race.

Attorney General Rob Bonta is also believed to be considering a run for governor after initially saying in February that he would focus on his current position — a claim he reiterated last week to reporters. His adviser, Dan Newman, did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

An Emerson college poll conducted in early December showed two Republican candidates leading the state’s gubernatorial field, with Democrats Eric Swalwell and Katie Porter close behind.

After losing the 2024 election, Harris initially regrouped in Los Angeles out of the public eye.

In her memoir and in interviews, she has swiped at Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who she considered as a running mate before deciding on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

She wrote that Newsom initially declined her calls after former president Joe Biden dropped out and endorsed her because he was on the treadmill, and later on a hike.

Later that night, Newsom endorsed Harris. The two came up together in San Francisco politics in the 1990s and share political and fundraising strategists.

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