Kamala Harris speaks during a fireside chat at MEET Las Vegas on May 07, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ian Maule/Getty Images
Former Vice President Kamala Harris indicated she is “contemplating” a potential presidential run in 2028, yet some previous backers express a lack of enthusiasm, notwithstanding her national recognition and tenure as second-in-command.
ABC News engaged with over 15 former contributors, campaign organizers, Biden White House personnel, and current advisors concerning Harris’s potential bid for office again, with some requesting anonymity to speak candidly.
A confidential source close to Harris revealed that she is evaluating all possibilities, but has not yet commenced formal discussions about a campaign with her team.
Kamala Harris versus Gavin Newsom
Similar to Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom began his political career in San Francisco. He is also recognized as a leading contender for the 2028 presidential election and might attract some of her supporters, although he has not made a formal commitment.
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, a significant political figure in California, informed ABC News that while it is premature to speculate, he believes Newsom would be the more “feasible” option between his two protégés, “because he would not be the most recent one to lose.”
“When you endorse someone for a position, you truly want to back a winner, and Newsom, at this moment, would be considered a winner,” Brown stated.
Brown expressed his “surprise” at Harris’s choice not to pursue the California governorship in 2026.
“I would have advised her to seek election as governor, which would have placed her in an identical, if not superior, position regarding national electability compared to Newsom. …. If she had been the governor of California on January 8, 2027, the conversation would have centered on her candidacy, not anyone else’s,” Brown remarked.
California Governor Gavin Newsom gives remarks at the Center for American Progress Ideas Conference at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2026.Annabelle Gordon/Reuters
An influential donor in California and an early supporter of Harris shared with ABC News, “I haven’t encountered anyone suggesting her running would be beneficial. … We are seeking someone who is new and not imposed upon the electorate. We understood we were in a difficult situation previously, but that is not the case moving forward.”
Asif Mahmood, a fundraiser who has supported Harris for over 15 years, commented, “If it comes down to Kamala and Newsom, the funding will be split, and I believe Newsom might have a slight advantage due to his current position as governor.”
“It’s not that I can say with certainty that I will back her as I have in the past; it will depend on the overall field of candidates,” Mahmood added.
A source close to Harris indicated that should she decide to run, she would be aware that potential donors and campaign operatives might align themselves with other campaigns.
Discontent among some donors
Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign expended over $1 billion in just 15 weeks, a factor that some fundraisers noted has made them hesitant to contribute substantial amounts to campaigns in the future.
“I believe the electorate will be strongly desiring a new, fresh, younger voice with a different outlook, capable of effectively articulating a vision for the future. … I do not, by any means, think Kamala is the appropriate choice for this moment,” stated a fundraiser who solicited donations for Harris’s 2024 campaign.
A long-standing Democratic donor who contributed to Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign told ABC News, “I truly haven’t heard anyone express a desire for her to run. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”
“I really believe that anyone who became the nominee after Biden withdrew would have attracted significant funding. … I don’t know many major donors who felt particularly enthusiastic about contributing to her campaign; it was simply because she was at the top of the ticket,” the donor elaborated.
One fundraiser involved in both Harris’s 2020 and 2024 campaigns remarked, “For someone aiming for a future political career, she has done nothing … to maintain relationships with any of her major donors that I am aware of. It’s been two years, and I don’t believe anyone has even received a thank-you note.”
However, a few fundraisers interviewed by ABC News held a different perspective.
“The typical Democratic voter who contributes small amounts, like $10 or $20, currently favors Kamala Harris, so she will possess the capacity to garner substantial grassroots funding, which is fundamental to local politics,” said Tom Nides, a former official in the Biden administration who assisted with fundraising for Harris in 2024 when she became the nominee. “Large contributions are becoming less crucial, and those donors will support her if they believe she can win.”
In response to an inquiry about the apparent lack of enthusiasm from some donors, a spokesperson for Harris stated, “The Vice President appreciates the supporters who have stood by her. Currently, as Americans seek leadership in the struggle against the erosion of their fundamental rights and freedoms — including the Supreme Court’s damaging decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act — her focus is on electing Democrats across the board in the midterms and strengthening state parties for the crucial battles ahead.”
‘Biden weariness’
For certain individuals, Harris’s connection to former President Joe Biden—who withdrew from the race amid considerable pressure from Democrats—will face scrutiny.
“There is a certain ‘Biden weariness’,” commented a former senior campaign advisor who worked on Harris’s 2024 campaign.
“She was obviously his vice president, which is an advantage. … But it is also a disadvantage in other ways, particularly when your boss was not highly popular as he concluded his term. … I think donors, and the electorate in general, are looking for a fighter, but they also desire some new faces,” the former advisor added.
One fundraiser from the 2020 Harris campaign suggested that her opponents would capitalize on her failure to urge Biden to withdraw earlier, should she participate in a 2028 debate.
President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris go for a hug as Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff looks on after the President delivered his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.Pool/Getty Images
However, Ashley Etienne, the Vice President’s former communications director, stated that Harris sufficiently distanced herself through her book, “107 Days,” which chronicles her frustrations with Biden.
“I believe that by 2028, if conditions persist as they are now, with issues of affordability, costs, unemployment, and a decline in democratic principles, the Biden connection will no longer be a significant factor,” commented a former senior campaign advisor who maintains close ties to Harris.
Another individual close to Harris suggested that sufficient time would have elapsed, allowing her to reflect on her association with Biden and address topics she could not openly discuss while serving as vice president.
The choice not to run for governor
Harris’s decision to forgo a run for California governor this year was a source of disappointment for some, while others viewed it as a strategic move.
“Had Harris entered the contest, she would have cleared the field and spared Democrats considerable difficulty and uncertainty that arose during this primary,” Mahmood stated.
Etienne opined that entering the gubernatorial race would have been a “losing proposition.”
“For someone aspiring to the presidency, who has already served as vice president, I did not see that as a particularly sound or beneficial move. … I simply did not believe she would gain anything from it,” Etienne explained.
A long-term supporter of Harris expressed his “surprise” at her decision not to compete for governor, as it would have been a “significant” role for her. However, he noted that at the time of her decision, her campaign might have faced questions regarding her defense of Biden and her reluctance to push him to exit earlier.
A former senior campaign advisor who remains close to Harris indicated that there was a perception that Harris had to make a swift decision about a gubernatorial run shortly after the presidential campaign concluded.
Harris’s potential approach to her 2028 decision
A source familiar with Harris’s thinking suggested that if she were to run in 2028, she would benefit from high name recognition, favorability among Democrats, the freedom to articulate her vision without the constraints of the vice presidency, and additional time.
The source further mentioned that Harris is currently concentrating on the midterm elections—assisting with fundraising for candidates and state parties—and vocally opposing Republican-led redistricting efforts in the South.
In August, Harris is scheduled to deliver a keynote address to Louisiana Democrats at the party’s annual fundraising gala, where she will outline her proposed strategies for Democrats to counter the Louisiana v. Callais ruling, which significantly weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The former vice president has also been in communication with federal and state lawmakers affected by this decision, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus. During the spring, she led fundraising initiatives for Democratic state parties in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, and Nevada.
Her ultimate decision may hinge on whether she believes a presidential campaign or establishing a foundation would be a more effective vehicle for advancing her vision for America, according to the informed source.
Kamala Harris speaks during a fireside chat at MEET Las Vegas on May 07, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ian Maule/Getty Images
Adrienne Elrod, who served as Harris’s senior advisor and spokesperson in 2024, commented, “I believe anyone with valuable ideas on how to advance our country should run for president, particularly if they possess extensive experience to offer, and she certainly fits that description.”
Etienne expressed her belief that Harris should run, suggesting she can differentiate herself from other candidates since she is not currently holding an elected office, a first in her political career.
“People view her favorably, but she carried some evident baggage, so the question is how she will address and shed that baggage in this short period, and then emerge with a combination of appearing fresh and new, yet experienced enough to guide the nation through the challenges posed by Trump,” Etienne remarked.
“Running for president is exceptionally challenging, and I think individuals who haven’t experienced it underestimate the difficulties and scrutiny, along with all the accompanying factors at that level. Therefore, in many respects, the most effective preparation for running is to have run previously,” stated a former senior campaign advisor who remains close to Harris.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com