New Report Casts Doubt on Potential Kamala Harris 2028 Presidential Run

A new Axios report⁠ found many of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ closest aides, advisers, and donors do not believe she will run for president again in 2028.

As reported on Tuesday’s AM Update, the decision would potentially reshape the Democrat primary field as Harris currently leads the RealClearPolitics polling average⁠ with 24.1 percent. She is more than 10 points ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 13.8 percent. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is just behind Newsom at 13.1 percent, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff round out the top five with 11.1 percent and 8.8 percent respectively.

The report comes a week after Newsom told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he will not enter the Democrat primary if Harris mounts a third run for the White House.

Staffers Sound Off

Axios surveyed eight former Harris aides and advisers, including several who served in senior positions. Five reportedly predicted she will not run, two described her chances as a coin flip, and only one expected her to enter the race.

Former staffers pointed to what they describe as a relatively limited political operation. While Harris has appeared on the campaign trail for some midterm candidates and done some podcast interviews while promoting her podcast, the sources view those moves as an effort to preserve her influence than the early stages of another presidential campaign.

One former aide argued a candidate determined to run would already be hiring additional staff, traveling more extensively, and taking a larger role in the party’s policy debates.

And then there is the money problem. Axios reported several major donors remain angry over the 2024 loss, and some former Harris backers are allegedly already gravitating toward potential rivals like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Newsom. To that point, top Democrat donor Reid Hoffman recently predicted Harris would face what he called a “very challenging path.”

Guessing Game

During one of those podcast interviews earlier this month, Harris explained to soccer player-turned-progressive activist Megan Rapinoe how she plans to remain politically engaged. “I don’t know how to live and not serve. I honestly don’t. I just don’t. It’s something I’ve come to terms with. I don’t know how to, I just don’t know a life without figuring out how I can help move the needle,” she pontificated.

“So right now, midterms, midterms, midterms. Full-time occupying my thoughts, my mind, and my work. We have to win these midterms. These folks are cheating. They’re redrawing lines. They’re trying to make it more difficult for people to vote so they won’t vote because they are afraid of the power of the people,” Harris went on to claim. “And so I’m spending full time working on doing everything I can to help people, restore some balance in our government which is through the midterms winning back Congress, the House and the Senate so that we can stop the madness.”

Asked point blank if she is going to run in 2028, Harris again responded that she has not yet decided. The suspense!

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