Former US Vice President Kamala Harris ruled out running for governor of California on Wednesday, in a statement that provided no reason for her decision but warned that the country was in “a moment of crisis.”
The Democrat, who was defeated by Donald Trump in a stormy presidential election last year, had been considering a run for governor of her home state of California in 2026, when Democratic incumbent Gavin Newsom steps down.
She had set a late-summer timetable for announcing her plans after leaving Washington in January.
“I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for governor in this election,” Harris said in a statement.
Harris, 60, would have been the favourite if she had run—she was the top choice in the state, according to polling conducted earlier in July by the University of California, Irvine—but she provided no explanation for her decision.
Her withdrawal from the gubernatorial race raises the possibility that she will run for president again in 2028.
The political world had been curious about the former vice president’s plans since her defeat to Trump, when she entered the race late to replace an ailing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.
While out of the spotlight, Harris contacted long-time supporters and funders to gauge interest for her bid to lead the country’s most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies.
She represented the Golden State in the Senate and served as its attorney general, and she was seen as having widespread name recognition, which would aid in the establishment of a large campaign fund.
Harris stated that the country was in a “moment of crisis” because politics, government, and US institutions had failed the American people.
Harris called for “fresh thinking—committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.”
“I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans,” she added.
The next governor of California will be elected on November 3 of next year.
Republican businessman Rick Caruso finished a distant second to Harris in the UC Irvine poll, but 40% of respondents indicated they weren’t sure who they wanted to succeed Newsom.
The current governor is unable to compete for reelection and is regarded as a leading Democratic candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
