Advertisement
Kamala Harris
WorldUnited States & Canada

Ex-US vice-president Harris rules out run for California governor

The Democrat – defeated by Trump in last year’s election – offered little explanation for her decision but said the US was in ‘crisis’

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
Former US vice-president Kamala Harris. Photo: Los Angeles Times / TNS
Agence France-Presse

Former US vice-president Kamala Harris ruled out running for governor of California on Wednesday, in a statement that offered little explanation for her decision but warned that the nation was in “a moment of crisis”.

The Democrat – defeated last year by Donald Trump in a tumultuous presidential election – had been considering a run for the governorship of her home state in 2026, with Democratic incumbent Gavin Newsom stepping down.

She had set an end-of-summer deadline for announcing her plans after leaving Washington in January.

Advertisement
“I love this state, its people and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for governor in this election,” Harris said in a statement.

Harris, 60, would have been the favourite had she thrown her hat in the ring – she was the state’s top choice, according to polling earlier in July from the University of California, Irvine – yet she offered no explanation for her decision.

Advertisement

Her retreat from the gubernatorial contest means she could, in theory, decide to try again for the White House in 2028.

The political world had been in suspense about the former vice-president’s plans since her loss to Trump, when she came into the race late to replace an ailing president Joe Biden atop the Democratic ticket.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x