The buzz in California political circles is all about one big question: What’s next for Vice President Kamala Harris? After her short-lived 2020 presidential bid, many wonder if she’ll launch another run for the White House in 2028—or pivot to a more immediate opportunity, the 2026 governor’s race. If she chooses the latter, most analysts agree she’d instantly become the frontrunner to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom, who will be termed out.
Harris, a former U.S. senator, state attorney general, and San Francisco district attorney, has not committed to any path. She’s reportedly said she will make a decision by the end of the summer. Until then, speculation will continue swirling.
Regardless of Harris’s choice, California may finally elect its first female governor in 2026—a milestone the progressive state has yet to reach. Already in the race is a high-profile contender: Katie Porter, former Democratic congresswoman and law professor, who jumped in this March and is leading early polls.
Porter, known for her sharp questioning style in congressional hearings and her iconic use of a whiteboard, is no traditional politician. Inspired to enter public service after Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, she flipped a traditionally Republican seat in Orange County in 2018. Her viral committee appearances—where she grilled pharmaceutical and oil executives with data-backed questions—won her national attention and a devoted following.
“People remember what I wrote on those whiteboards,” Porter told a reporter. “When I laid out a budget and showed how a family couldn’t make ends meet, they saw I understood their reality.”
Porter, a single mom raising three teenagers, resonates with voters who feel overlooked by the political elite. Her authenticity and progressive credentials have helped her outpace better-known rivals like former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Still, Harris’s entry could shake the race. Some candidates have hinted they might bow out if Harris joins. Porter, however, is taking a wait-and-see approach. “The vice president will make her decision on her own timeline,” she said.
Should Porter stay in the race, one thing is certain—her whiteboard is coming with her. “Absolutely,” she confirmed. And in a political era where image and message delivery matter more than ever, that could be her biggest asset.
