As former Vice President Kamala Harris continues to keep Californians guessing on whether she’ll run for governor, signs are emerging that Democratic insiders are increasingly apathetic over her possible return to the political scene.
Put another way, it appears that “Kamala Harris fatigue” may be setting in amongst important Democrats in the state, even if that sentiment has not fully trickled down to voters yet.
To be sure, if Harris did decide to enter the race – even later this summer – she would certainly be the favorite.
She remains an extremely popular and well-liked figure within the Democratic Party and in California, and while she would benefit tremendously from distinguishing her policies from current Gov. Newsom’s, she’d still likely have the inside track.
Early polls, such as an Inside California Politics/Emerson survey show her with a commanding 31% to 8% lead over former Rep. Katie Porter, who was in second, among likely voters.
Similarly, Harris’ 65% net-favorability among California Democrats is the highest among all candidates – declared or potential – tested in a Capitol Weekly survey, 16-points higher than Porter’s.
However, Harris’ indecision can also be taken as her leaving the door open for another shot at the White House in 2028, turning off some key California Democrats.
Indeed, last weekend, at a gathering of party insiders in Anaheim, a number of influential Democrats expressed exasperation – bordering on frustration – at the idea that Harris may run for governor as a “fallback option” per Politico.
One state party delegate told Politico that “We haven’t really heard from her (Harris) on California issues since Trump’s inauguration…I feel like California isn’t a consolation prize.”
Echoing those concerns, another state delegate said, “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.”
She continued, “That would make me feel like I’m wasting my vote. I want a strong governor for at least four years.”
Perhaps most tellingly, Lorena Gonzalez, the head of the powerful California Labor Federation, underscored the potential Harris fatigue. She told the magazine that she has “not heard much desire for Harris to clear the field.”
While polling suggests that these concerns are a minority viewpoint thus far, it appears that, among party officials and Democratic activists, the feeling is growing.
As such, it’s entirely possible that the longer Harris refuses to announce a decision, the more likely it is that “Harris fatigue” spreads from party elites to mainstream voters.
To that point, two weeks ago in these pages, I referenced a poll which suggests that Democratic insiders’ views have already begun filtering down to the electorate.
As I wrote then, “Californians are split on whether they want Harris to run, with 50% saying yes, and 50% saying no.”
This was down from polling immediately after the 2024 election, which showed 46% of Californians wanting her to run, vs. 42% saying they did not.
In that same vein, I noted that Harris’ indecision has effectively frozen the race, particularly among donors.
David Campos, vice chair of California Democrats, lamented that while other candidates actually showed up to the conference and engaged with voters and donors, fundraising remains stuck pending Harris’ decision.
All things considered, Harris faces an extremely unique set of circumstances which are likely contributing to her delaying a decision, but also contributing to tepid reactions about her potential candidacy.
After being thrust into the role of presidential candidate in an entirely unprecedented fashion, Harris often struggled to sustain momentum on the campaign trail.
Moreover, whether she runs for governor or decides to try her luck at the presidency once more, Harris will be forced to answer for her role in defending the mental acuity and abilities of former President Biden.
This is something Democratic candidates throughout the country will have to reckon with, but none of them were as close to Biden – nor defended him so vociferously – as Harris.
Interestingly, Campos noted something else that could work against Harris, particularly if she had higher ambitions. He said, “people want to have a campaign, an election” and not a coronation.
As the data strongly suggests, her entry into the race would be a clearing event, reigniting complaints from the 2024 election that Harris was effectively crowned without a truly fair contest.
Related Articles
After years of failure, LA’s homelessness spending could go under receivership Is Newsom’s putative campaign in a bumbling phase? The ‘China Shock’ myth driving bad populist trade policies is unraveling Trump’s immigration crackdown blocks tourists and profits Democrats need soul-searching, not market research It is very important to note that it would be a mistake to assume that these concerns surrounding Harris were felt unanimously in Anaheim.There were a considerable number of Harris supporters who were enthusiastic about the possibility of the former VP “coming home to lead our state” as one activist put it.
This sentiment is clearly reflected in polls which show Harris’ lead as steady and strong.
At the same time, it would be an equally sizable mistake to believe that Harris can keep voters waiting indefinitely.
While Harris would undoubtedly be able to put together a – likely winning – campaign, the longer she waits to decide whether her ultimate goal is Sacramento or further east in Washington, DC, the greater risk of fatigue setting in.
Douglas Schoen is a longtime Democratic political consultant.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Is ‘Kamala Harris fatigue’ already setting in for California Democrats? )
Also on site :