Former Vice President Kamala Harris has announced whether she’ll enter the 2026 race to become California’s next governor.
In a statement posted Wednesday on social media, Harris said she spent months thinking about running to lead her home state. “But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election,” she stated.
Harris said she loves public service and admires those who commit to serving their communities and the nation.
“At the same time, we must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis,” she continued.
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Harris added that she will share details about her plans soon. Among her options, she is reportedly considering starting a nonprofit focused on the political ecosystem and creating a political action committee to raise money for Democratic candidates.
“I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly,” she said.
Democratic strategist Kevin Liao told San Francisco public radio station KQED Harris would have been the frontrunner if she entered the race, but she would have also faced serious challenges along the way.
“There’s a lot of dissatisfaction with the status quo in California, whether it’s around homelessness, whether it’s around the cost of living,” said Liao. “Having someone who pretty much epitomizes the status quo, the person who was vice president, who was the Democratic nominee for president, would have made it challenging for her.”
Harris’ decision comes as many candidates have already entered the governor’s race. Some of the most prominent Democrats include former Rep. Katie Porter; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Republican contenders include former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Gov. Gavin Newsom is unable to run again due to being termed out.
Back in May, Villaraigosa accused both Harris and Becerra of being “complicit” in hiding former President Joe Biden’s mental decline from the public, as previously reported.
His comments came amid growing calls for Harris to run for governor, citing her experience as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, U.S. senator, and vice president, as well as her victory in California during the 2024 presidential race.
It’s unclear if she’s keeping her options open for a White House bid in 2028.
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