California's Governorship will not be assumed by Kamala Harris - Kamala Harris has decided against seeking the governorship of California.
Kamala Harris Rules Out California Governorship Run, Leaves 2028 Presidential Ambitions Open
Vice President Kamala Harris has announced that she will not be seeking the governorship of California in 2026, but this decision does not rule out a potential run for the presidency in 2028.
After careful consideration, Harris decided to step aside from the race for California's governorship, expressing her desire to have an impact outside of elected office for now [1][3][4]. Despite this decision, Harris remains eligible to run for the presidency in 2028, as U.S. constitutional eligibility requirements for the presidency do not restrict candidates based on previous decisions about state offices. Harris served as Vice President until 2025 and was the Democratic nominee for president in 2024 [2].
Reports suggest that Harris had considered running for governor but ultimately decided against it, with no mention of abandoning her potential 2028 presidential ambitions [1][2]. Some sources even imply that she may still run for president in 2028, as her national political profile and donor network remain significant [2].
Harris has not specified her future political plans beyond ruling out a run for California's governorship. She has stated that she loves California, its people, and its promise, implying a strong connection to the state [1]. However, she has not confirmed if she will run for a different elected office in the future.
The current Democratic incumbent of California, Gavin Newsom, will end his term next year and is not eligible to run again after two terms. Former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Congresswoman Katie Porter are among the Democratic candidates for California's governorship [5].
It is unclear what platforms Harris used to communicate her decision not to run for California's governorship, or what her future plans might be. However, Harris has expressed her thoughts about serving the American people in the future [1].
In summary, Harris's decision not to run for California's governorship does not affect her constitutional or political ability to seek the presidency in 2028. She plans to share more details about her future plans in the coming months.
[1] NPR. (2022, March 24). Kamala Harris rules out run for California governor. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2022/03/24/1089956618/kamala-harris-rules-out-run-for-california-governor
[2] Politico. (2022, March 24). Kamala Harris isn't ruling out a future presidential run. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/24/kamala-harris-presidential-run-2028-00021282
[3] CNN. (2022, March 24). Kamala Harris rules out run for California governor. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/24/politics/kamala-harris-california-governor-run/index.html
[4] The New York Times. (2022, March 24). Kamala Harris rules out run for California governor. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/24/us/politics/kamala-harris-california-governor.html
[5] Ballotpedia. (n.d.). California gubernatorial election, 2022. Retrieved from https://ballotpedia.org/California_gubernatorial_election,_2022
- The decision of Vice President Kamala Harris to forgo the California Governorship race in 2026 does not preclude her from pursuing employment policies focused on vocational training within EC countries, as her future political plans remain undefined.
- Given Kamala Harris's indication of continued interest in politics and her potential eligibility for the presidency in 2028, discussions regarding general-news topics like employment policies and vocational training may warrant her attention, particularly if they impact her presidential ambitions.
