Kamala Harris has spent recent months in political quietude, reflecting on her future from her home base in Los Angeles. While speculation swirls over whether the former vice president will enter California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, she has so far remained tight-lipped on her intentions. But on Wednesday night, Harris broke her silence with a sharp critique of President Trump’s administration and a warning about the nation’s democratic future.
In a 16-minute speech delivered in San Francisco — the city where she launched her political career as district attorney two decades ago — Harris warned of a looming constitutional crisis. “That is a crisis that will eventually impact everyone,” she said. “Because it would mean that the rules that protect our fundamental rights and freedoms… will no longer matter.”
The speech, streamed online and delivered at the 20th anniversary of Emerge, a group supporting Democratic women in politics, marked her most significant public remarks since leaving Washington. Though she acknowledged her months-long retreat from public life with a joke — “Everybody’s asking me, ‘Well, what’ve you been thinking about these days?’” — she offered no hint of her political ambitions, focusing squarely on national concerns.
Harris criticized the Republican agenda as deliberate rather than chaotic, accusing Trump and his allies of “punishing truth tellers” and retreating from global responsibilities. She praised progressive Democrats like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for rallying voters, emphasizing that if Congress and the courts fail, the American people must hold the executive branch accountable.
Her reentry into public discourse comes as California’s 2026 gubernatorial field heats up. With Governor Gavin Newsom barred by term limits, notable Democrats including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra have either declared or are weighing bids. Harris’s decision could reshape the race, potentially consolidating Democratic support or galvanizing Republican challengers like former Fox News host Steve Hilton.
Still, longtime allies say Harris has given no clear indication of her plans. “I don’t think she’s made up her mind,” said Democratic donor Mark Buell, who helped launch her first campaign in 2003.
For now, Harris appears content to stay above the fray — but her next move could once again place her at the center of California’s political stage.
