As July 21 approaches, Kamala Harris faces a symbolic crossroads. That date marks six months since Inauguration Day — and the expiration of the Secret Service protection former vice presidents receive. It also marks a year since President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid, giving Harris 107 days to mount her own 2024 presidential run — a sprint that ended in a painful loss to Donald Trump.
Now, the former vice president is weighing her next political move, with growing signs pointing to a 2026 bid for governor of California. According to several close to her, Harris has not made a final decision but is expected to resolve the speculation by late summer. An announcement could come as soon as August or shortly after Labor Day.
Harris has been reviewing private polling that shows strong name recognition and favorability among California Democrats, bolstering confidence that she could quickly clear the field. Still, not all rivals are backing down. Some Democrats argue the state needs a new voice, and others worry Harris views the governorship as a political consolation prize rather than a calling.
The stakes are high. California faces a projected $12 billion budget deficit, ongoing housing and homelessness crises, and the complex regulation of emerging technologies like AI. Harris has been consulting aides, poring over research, and hosting informal policy meetings at her Los Angeles home — part of what insiders describe as a lawyerly, methodical decision-making process.
Yet, the weight of the office — and its lack of Washington-style glamour — is not lost on Harris. Friends say she often asks aloud what meaningful progress would look like in such a turbulent time.
“She’s trying to figure out what it means to be governor,” one confidant told CNN.
With 10 months still left before the official filing deadline, Harris remains undecided. But amid a crowded field and growing national interest, her decision could reshape not only California’s future but her own place in the Democratic Party.
