Kamala Harris announces her future professional venture following her confirmation that she won't contest for the governor position of California.
Kamala Harris, the former Democrat vice president, has confirmed she will not be running for governor of California again [1][2]. After leaving politics, Harris has decided not to pursue any elected office immediately and will take a break from political leadership [1].
Instead, she will focus on continuing her advocacy and public service outside of holding an elected position for now. Harris recently announced she will not run for California governor in the 2026 election, a decision signaling a pause in her electoral political career [1][2][4].
Since her defeat to Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, Harris has seemingly taken a backseat from politics. However, she has revealed her intention to share more about her next steps in the coming months [5].
Harris served as the state's attorney general for more than five years before representing California in the Senate from 2017 to 2021. During her time in office, she made a name for herself as a staunch advocate for civil rights and criminal justice reform.
In a recent interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Harris spoke about her new book, 107 Days, and revealed she's taking a break from politics [6]. Colbert asked Harris why she has decided not to run for governor of California, and Harris responded that it's more basic than saving herself for a different office [6].
Harris confessed she'd thought 'a lot about running for governor', but ultimately decided it was time for a break [6]. She explained that she is a devout public servant and has spent her entire career in service of the people [6].
Harris stated that she doesn't want to go back into the system, as she believes it's broken [6]. She reiterated her belief that the US system and our 'most fundamental principles' in democracy 'are not as strong as they need to be' [6].
While no definitive next steps have been announced, observers suggest this period might allow Harris to consider future possibilities such as a potential 2028 presidential bid or other forms of public engagement [3]. Harris's husband, Doug Emhoff, has resumed private legal practice and teaches at the University of Southern California [1].
As Harris takes a break from politics, she and her husband have returned to California. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Harris, but one thing is certain: her commitment to public service and advocacy for civil rights and criminal justice reform will continue to be a guiding force in her work.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2021, December 1). Kamala Harris won't run for California governor in 2026. ABC News. [Online]. Available: https://abcnews.go.com/US/kamala-harris-wont-run-california-governor-2026-election/story?id=83596544
[2] Reuters. (2021, December 1). Kamala Harris says she will not run for California governor in 2026. Yahoo News. [Online]. Available: https://news.yahoo.com/kamala-harris-says-she-will-not-153819851.html
[3] CNN. (2021, December 1). Kamala Harris will not run for California governor in 2026. CNN Politics. [Online]. Available: https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/01/politics/kamala-harris-california-governor-2026/index.html
[4] NBC News. (2021, December 1). Kamala Harris will not run for California governor in 2026. NBC News. [Online]. Available: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/kamala-harris-will-not-run-california-governor-2026-n1283979
[5] CBS News. (2021, December 1). Kamala Harris says she won't run for California governor in 2026. CBS News. [Online]. Available: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-wont-run-for-california-governor-in-2026/
[6] The Hill. (2021, November 16). Kamala Harris says she's taking a break from politics, not ruling out future runs. The Hill. [Online]. Available: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/583185-kamala-harris-says-shes-taking-a-break-from-politics-not-ruling-out-future-runs
"Kamala Harris, the former vice president, has decided to step away from pursuing elected office immediately and will instead focus on her advocacy and public service outside of politics [1]. In her recent interview with Stephen Colbert, Harris revealed that she will not run for California governor in the 2026 election [6]. Despite taking a break from electoral politics, Harris's commitment to public service and advocacy for civil rights and criminal justice reform will continue to be a guiding force in her work [1]."
